Oct.22 (GMM) Karun Chandhok has counted himself out of the running for a formula one race drive at the 'Force India' team for 2008.

Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya's purchase of the Spyker team was viewed by some as an opportunity for leading Indian racers Narain Karthikeyan, who tests for Williams, and Chandhok, a race winner in the GP2 category this year.

But the publication DNA India reports that Chandhok is instead committed to F1's feeder series for another season in 2008.

"There were three options in formula one for next year including one race drive," he said.

"However, it is important for me to look at it from a long term perspective. If I go to F1 now and do a year, maybe that's all I'll get but if I do a good job in GP2 next year and finish in the top five it will carry a lot of weight for the rest of my career," 23-year-old Chandhok added.

He said he was "confident" he would nonetheless do some F1 testing in 2008.

Mallya agrees that Chandhok is not yet a serious consideration for the Force India team.

"I think he is at least a year away (from formula one)," he said.

"I know that he is committed to GP2 for 2008 so we will see how he performs."