CHAMP CAR MEDIA CONFERENCE

August 31, 2005

Oriol Servia

ORIOL SERVIA: Hello, everybody. Thanks very much. I want to take the opportunity to congratulate you on your new baby, Eric.

ORIOL SERVIA: Just great. It's so great right away. Still feels great now. I mean, I'm just overwhelmed of how much people have called me. They congratulate me, how happy everybody is. Obviously, I'm the happiest one. Everybody's happy, everything's going. I'm just great and ready. Now that I taste it once, I definitely want to have it again.

ORIOL SERVIA: Actually, the reaction has been huge. I mean, these last few races when I was in the podium, I had a lot of press. I was surprised how many people were following us. I think because of that, everybody knew we were getting close to that win. And the fact that we won, I don't know, made everybody follow us. Actually many, many people followed the race live through Eurosport. We made all the news on all the network TVs. It's been surprising but really good.

ORIOL SERVIA: Yeah, actually I don't think anybody handed me nothing. I can tell you that. I had to pass him twice. I mean, 10 laps to the end, I was third. It was a great fight. I think it was great drama. Through the years, I think everybody knew that my first win was not going to be easy because I had been close many, many times. Seemed like something was going wrong every time. So it was clear nobody was going to hand me a win, at least my first win. It definitely took some drama to get it. It was actually great because, you know, we made everybody stood up of their seats, and that's always good.

ORIOL SERVIA: Of course. I mean, we can always take wins, especially next one is Vegas where luck plays a big part on everything that happens in Vegas. We're willing to take it.

ORIOL SERVIA: I actually cannot share any details (laughter). No, actually we all had a very early flight. We had to be at the airport by 4. We definitely celebrated. We had a nice dinner and a little party. I think wasn't up to Jimmy Vasser's standards as he was planing.

ORIOL SERVIA: I'm sure we're going to find an excuse. Maybe another win to make it to have a decent celebration in Vegas.

ORIOL SERVIA: For sure, having a teammate like Sebastien, it's a big plus. As you mentioned, since 2000, when I was Cristiano da Matta's teammate, I haven't had a teammate for a full season. It's always hard to work on your own, first to make progress on a short weekend like we always do, but also it's hard for the other people to rate you because if there's no teammate, you always supposed to win, and if you're not winning, it's always the driver's fault, right? I mean, it's all a plus to have a good teammate. And Sebastien, I say it before, I'll repeat it, I honestly think he's the fastest man on the planet, and what a better reference than that. The champion, the fast guy like him, plus a guy that we have a very good relation. Since day one, we've worked very well. Apart from having a good personal relation, we both come from a background that we understand that we really need to work together to beat the competition first, beat all the other teams, and then, of course, it's about us, it's a fight between us. We both want to win. We definitely going to try our best to beat each other. But obviously that's after working together and making sure that the rest of the field is behind us. It's been working very well. It's just part -- one of the reasons why I think Newman/Haas, it's so successful, they always have good drivers together, and it's part of one of the reasons that makes the team so strong.

ORIOL SERVIA: Yes, I am.

ORIOL SERVIA: Well, it was easy for me because I wasn't there. I had some friends that really had some issues, although was not a big hurricane when it touched Miami. I think was not even category one. I was surprised when I got back how many trees were still in the middle of the road.

ORIOL SERVIA: Bruno has been great, great supporter of mine. Since day one, just before Milwaukee when they were considering me, Bruno was always behind me. Since then, it's always been. I mean, we are good friends. We always cycle together in Miami with Cristiano. You know, we definitely have -- honestly, we are friends. He wanted the best for me. He knew he couldn't drive, so he knew I deserved an opportunity. As I said, he gave me all the support and still gives me all the support. Was the first guy I spoke after the win. He called me right away on Lauderback's cell number. Was very happy for me. I'm happy to see that he's doing so well and that he will be a hundred percent whenever he is. He's been clear already to race in Mexico. That's great news for him.

ORIOL SERVIA: What will happen to me? For sure, whatever it happens, I'm going to be in a lot better position than I was nine months ago, no matter what. I'm just extremely pleased with the opportunity I had. I believe that if things keep going well for me and I'm in a good championship position, the team may try to run three cars. If there's one team that is prepared and have the right to run three cars, that's Newman/Haas. I wouldn't be surprised that we do that. But, again, I'm just a driver, I'm not a team owner, so we should ask them.

ORIOL SERVIA: Actually, not much. Unfortunately for me he's much younger than me. We never really raced together. I've known him a few times, but it's not like we have a big relation just because there never was. I've been racing in the States since '98, and that's probably when he started racing cars. I'm happy for him. I'm happy for Spain in general because is the first time that a Spaniard has a chance in a top team in Formula One. He's definitely taking advantage of it. It's actually a very good year for motorsports in general in Spain.

ORIOL SERVIA: Last win was Formula 3 in France in '97 in a city called Albi. Was actually on an airport racetrack, kind of Cleveland we have nowadays.

ORIOL SERVIA: You know the drivers, we always have excuses. The worst is that we believe those excuses. You know, in the back of my mind, I always knew that I was supposed to win some races, and things happen. I don't know. I guess we are a different kind that we always have hope. As I said, we always have an explanation why things went wrong. We always see a way that we can improve things and make them happen the way we want. I don't know, there's not really a secret for that. Just, you know, I've been doing what I like, having a great time. Maybe not through the best bigger-budget teams. But, again, it's always a challenge and I've always tried to beat any challenge I had like last year. I think I've been successful and happy with the challenges so far. It's just that.

ORIOL SERVIA: Well, I don't know for sure at all. I don't know the team knows. But PacifiCare has been great supporter of mine since day one. Every race I think they are happy and pleased with what I've done so far. I'm very happy to be part of their team. The Newman/Haas crew stay the same. I think it will depend when we get there what's the point situation, where we are. The team I'm sure will decide what's best for all of us.

ORIOL SERVIA: Actually, not at all. I'm sure he's busy testing for Ferrari. No, I haven't.

ORIOL SERVIA: I think probably because was the first one, as I said, the media reaction in Spain has been a little exaggerated. I've run through the battery of my phone every day. It's been a little too much. I don't think is going to be like this after every win, although if that's the pain I have to go through, I have no problem going for it again.

ORIOL SERVIA: Not really. Haven't thought about it yet. Haven't really thought about it. Maybe give me a second win. That would be a good gift.

ORIOL SERVIA: I think just going to Vegas in general is always good. It's good for the series, good for the fans, good for the drivers. It's just a very different race in a very cool city. The event, it's always good fun. Plus for us, we're right there after the first win. I know it's an important race for PacifiCare also. Last year they put a great show, Sebastien and Bruno. I hope this year we can do the same. Maybe we could reverse the order and would be welcome for all of us. We'll see. Last year unfortunately I had to start last because we missed qualifying. In the first lap, I passed 10 cars. I had fun in that race. I remember it was actually very different to what a Champ Car race usually is. But was kind of exciting. Again, being in Vegas, I think it's welcome for all of us.

ORIOL SERVIA: I have a couple of things going. First, professional, but not really professional. More fun than anything. I'll probably do a prerun for Baja in Mexico, which I'm not sure a hundred percent sure I'm going to race Baja. Just in case, it's always good to be prepared. Then I have a test in the middle of September with the team. Yeah, for sure, Newman/Haas doesn't stop working. They're going to be working hard to get more wins to make sure the championship goes home and that we are 1-2 in the championship, which is the main goal at this point. I think it's a very realistic goal. Just keep working as usual at Newman/Haas.

ORIOL SERVIA: It's going to be in Ohio.

ORIOL SERVIA: I actually -- I believe somewhere in Ohio. I don't know.

ORIOL SERVIA: -- achievement. It definitely is a challenge, a huge challenge for me, a great achievement I would consider for myself. Again, I keep repeating, I really believe he's the fastest man on earth. I've been very close. San Jose, I think I was only few thousandths off in the second qualifying. I had three laps that although Tracy was pissed off at me because I was in his way, I had cars in my way, too, and I couldn't finish those three laps that I was more than 2/10ths down in the time. We drivers always say, "If, if, if." As you say, Montreal, if I had not run out of fuel after the last corner. But, you know, I have to do it. It's not going to be an "if" question. I really would like to, but I know it's not going to be an easy thing. It's not my main thing to beat my teammate at all. I just know that if I beat Sebastien, I'll be P1 because he's always P1. You know what I mean? That's the real goal. It's not really just beating Sebastien, it's being up there. We'll see. I mean, as you say, every race I'm getting closer. I'm working I think better with Rocky, the engineer, and with getting the best out of the car every time. It's just going to be a question of doing everything right for sure, the setup and the driving and the qualifying run, to beat Sebastien. We're definitely up for the challenge. As I said, focus is to beat competition first and then your teammate.

ORIOL SERVIA: When we used to Michigan and Fontana, I have to say I did enjoy them. They were long races, very different. You had to play a little bit the strategy. Plus in the race, it wasn't flat all around. It was definitely a challenge. As I said, a different race to all the other races. I thought they were very interesting to have them in the schedule. Vegas is a little bit -- I think is a little too easy for us to go flat, I have to be honest. It's not the typical I think kind of racing we like to see in a Champ Car. But, you know, we all know Vegas is a great market and I think the series has been trying to have a street race there, as I understand. Maybe that's the process we have to go through. It's just, at the end of the day, another race. You still want to get the 30 points and do a better job than the other teams and drivers. At the end of the day, it's a similar business, similar business.

ORIOL SERVIA: Of course. I mean, again, it's one of those things that in a perfect world you would like the penalties to be addressed as quick as possible. But I understand the situation of the officials. It's six laps to go. You don't want to make the wrong call. They probably saw I had one more shot 'push to pass'. Probably they thought, Let's hope he can do it again and arrange it without us getting involved. At the end of the day, most of the time it's the best solution. Once the officials gets involved, it's a very critical position they are in. Then they wait. I did the second attempt. I pass him. He did it again. At that point they definitely had to do it. Unfortunately, was only one lap to go. I mean, I would understand that Justin wanted everything to be arranged quicker, but me too. At the end of the day, I think the officials did what they had to do with the time they had.

ORIOL SERVIA: It's fantastic. I really, really, really enjoy it. It's one of the reasons that I'm so pleased to be at Newman/Haas. Obviously, the whole crew, it's fantastic. Everything, it's just wonderful. It definitely is. But Rocky, being the engineer, makes it very special. He's been very good before in the past had many success with Cristiano and Bruno. I'm really enjoying. He's really nice to work with, gives you great support. He's tough when he needs to be tough, tells you things the way they are. At the end of the day, he's very smart and works harder than anybody I've ever been with. That's probably the key to his success is how smart he is and how much he puts into it. I'm just really proud that I've been able to work with him all this year.

ORIOL SERVIA: I will. Thank you very much to all of you. I hope these four races left, very different. I think we at Newman/Haas have a real chance of winning the four of them. We'll keep it up. Hopefully we can bring more wins to the PacifiCare people that have been, as I said, real supporters of mine. I home I can keep delivering the goods for them.