CART MEDIA CONFERENCE

May 30, 2001

Helio Castroneves

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Good afternoon. It's been a fantastic week, of course, but it's getting closer to another race, so we have to focus already and keep doing our work.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, it's just the way I've turned the page, and I'm leaving actually tomorrow morning to Milwaukee. I have no trouble with that. In fact, I already spoke with all the engineers. It's a great situation. It's a great feeling. Of course, it's a great race in the world, but, hey, we just have to keep continuing our job. And I'm really focused to this next one, especially that after Japan, finished second and figuring out a little bit about ovals. So, basically, let's keep the momentum going. This is just helping the whole team, not only myself, but also the team, playing comfortable, they are confident. So, I am really focused and I am really looking forward to go back to Milwaukee. Like everybody know, the first pole position, my first pole podium and I hope we do well there.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: After, I did, yeah, the photo shoot, the typical photo shoot with the car and the trophy. I went to a lot of the TV shows, CNN Sports on Monday, and then Tuesday I have fox in the morning, and then I went to meet chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, and then I went to meet Donald Trump. Also, I went to Bloomberg and Charlie Rose, also I pitched the baseball game, ball on the Mets game. And this morning, I went to Regis & Kelly. Now I'm here with you guys, and, well, just keeps going and going. It's been a fantastic week. A lot of press. A lot of news, lunch with all the New York press. So, I've been having a good time. Of course, it's tiring, but, hey, I really was looking for this.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: First of all, thank you very much. Actually, since I went there to that racetrack, I knew it would be a big challenge. But, I mean, if you notice, we are not actually -- especially myself, I was really focused on the CART series and trying to make sure that we do everything exactly and making -- scoring points, because any point in our series, any point is very important. After coming back from Nazareth, after the race, going straight to the racetrack, you see all of the team efforts. Everybody is really trying hard, and coming back, going to Japan, coming back and then staying there. So, I tell you, it was very tiring, but not tiring driving the car, but most of it was traveling. Every time that I was in the car, as soon as I close my visor, I don't think about anything else and just do a good performance and trying to find a limit of the car. So, when I went to the race, no doubt about what was a great feeling to be there. But, as soon as the race started, I was pretty much normal, same as the other races. 500 miles -- I've been in a 500-mile situation, except that I haven't been on that track, specific track. But I was able to proceed, and basically like I said, I got a lot of information, and make sure that I understand. I had no trouble. So far, like I said, I'm really enjoying a lot what I'm doing, and well, tomorrow come back to the normal life. I mean, I'm still normal life, for me. Just talking to the press, with you guys and just more than usual, but other than that, I'm still the same guy and I pretend to be like that.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: The only thing that's strange is I'm getting a much better -- easy dates right now. No, I'm okay. I like -- I've always been like this. I believe my personality always been this way. Like I said, the only difference I felt is some guys, more than everybody, gives me a congratulations because it's a difficult race. I don't feel any other special treatment or seeing -- like going in the street and people stopping me and asking me for autographs. I don't think -- maybe in Brazil, I'm not sure yet, waiting to see. But right now, like I said, until today, I'm still celebrating, but tomorrow we are going to start the weekend to Milwaukee and focus on our championship now.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Oh, my goodness. Thank you very much, first of all. But Detroit is going to be an unforgettable one. Especially, first, because it was my first one and I was so excited, and I think everybody saw. Second, I mean, it started the real spiderman; climbing the fence and doing all these things. I tell you, it's just a great feeling. Detroit start everything. It was my beginning, like in terms of winning, and I just -- it's difficult to compare. You know, it's different race. Indianapolis 500, it is a huge race, but it is my first one. Maybe if I'd been trying a long time, it would be more a great feeling. I cannot forget the first one, of course. Detroit was one of my special one and it's going to always be in my heart.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: First, the good thing is a good relationship between drivers, I believe. Gil and I, we are Brazilian, and even -- get even better, the relationship, because we can speak in our natural language, but only outside of the truck. In the truck, we have to speak in Portuguese -- in English. I think not only that, the whole team actually, it's been renovated. You know, everybody is like being really focused. Nobody -- everybody forgot about what's in the past and they notice the situation, which is really tough. And everyone wasn't expect -- like we know the race. Just we go and we work and after we do a good job, we just keep improving. No doubt about last year; that's what happened. Both car was going well. Unfortunately, I didn't have many opportunity. My car breaks; was broke sometimes. This is just racing, and Gil got better points, especially on the oval. I believe everybody deserve it. Last year, in fact, Roger told me: You guys did a good job, both are champions, here this year. I'm glad that we work together, because both cars are always going to be on the top. But no doubt about Roger Penske, the captain of this boat, to put this organization together with Cindric (ph), and also, my engineer, Andy Boorman (ph), has done a good job. He knows me very well. Basically, help everyone. So the communication, I think, is the key of the team and that's why we are doing good.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I do love short ovals. I really like it, like Nazareth and also Milwaukee, both are track -- really short, also Chicago. I really enjoy. I think it is really challenging and very difficult. And I like when it's difficult. Make my job look easier, you know.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I don't think we should put this way -- in terms of CART, IRL, NASCAR or Formula 1, or in particular, Indy 500. On that track -- it's that track. You know, everybody is Indy 500 driver. That's why, the way I consider it there. So nobody is there to be better than any other series. Everybody is trying to achieve one thing, which is win the race. I think, of course, somehow the end of it -- me that puts like the way I finish, and the way everything started -- like for me, I race in Phoenix with the guys, and I race with these guys, most of them, in Indy Lights. So I have no problem with them and I have respect for most of these drivers. Again, Indy 500 is just a special race, and that's why makes this track and this race special because all the drivers are together. It's not to make it different between drivers, but to make tougher in this racetrack. Four corners looks like the same, but they are not the same. They are very technical. They are very difficult. Still trying to figure out Turn 1, but I think I did a pretty good job on Sunday. So bottom line, there it's Indy 500 drivers and I'm glad to be the champ.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I think probably in the future, more and more people, it's going to start getting over and coming over to the racetrack like happened this year. We have, like you mentioned, different CART guys and NASCAR guys. I'm sure it's going to be on the future, even difficult, and all the time getting difficult, like it's always been. I hope -- I hope this happens, because it's just going to be a success.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, I think it's nice. You know, it's a team sport. Motor racing is a team sport. I could not win without a race car, and even Jeff Gordon could not win without his race car. I think I don't mind people go ahead and climb the fence. It's just a way to express the happiness of the team and of the driver, of course. I think it's nice. If they can do that, keep doing that. I'm just going to be together with everyone. I'm still going to climb the fence as much as I can as long as I'm winning.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Definitely, it was a great sensation. You know, I couldn't -- I could not express the emotion or the reaction, because I have ABC talking to me at that time and so I have to like, okay, I'm cool with this. But it was fantastic. I still think that I heard the last laugh and I still think -- I'm not sure if I really heard, or if did was my imagination, the crowd cheering, the last laugh as I was crossing the checkered flag. And I was like, wow, I can't believe it. Starts to be a special race and I'm glad that I did all the job perfectly, you know. I was patient, I was aggressive, and I was precise when I had to be.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I didn't watch the race yet, so I don't know if they were cheering.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: It was a great race.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Not that I know of. We did the preparation in Phoenix. We did the Indianapolis. I don't think Roger wants to focus in a different series. He wants to make sure that now we put 100% effort in the CART Championship.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I just want to make sure that -- what I didn't do right last year on the ovals be completely different this year. If you notice last year, I have only 15 points or 16 points. And this year, I already have more points than last year on the ovals. It's definitely improvement, and I understand if you don't have a car to finish first, then you have a car to finish 12th, you have to finish 12th. Two points in Nazareth today put me two points behind Kenny, and who knows, might be two points enough to clinch thee Championship, I don't know. That's why we have to keep working hard, and especially this weekend in Milwaukee and make sure that we keep doing the job that we are doing.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Right. Right. Turn 1, it's a great -- one-mile oval. We don't have much banking. I don't think we have banking at all, but maybe it's a little. There is a little bump on the entry of Turn 1, and you basically have to be careful not to be aggressive on the throttle. You try to lift off on the beginning of the corner when you are going to turn through, which is kind of create a little apex, and you go really close to the curb. And exit, you have to be almost full throttle already. And going closer to the wall, and it's not long straightaway down the back straight, but it is enough to make some overtakes, and I think that's most of the place that people try to pass. Turns 3 and 4, that's very high speed -- I mean, both are high speed but faster than Turn 1 and Turn 2. You try to carry more speed instead of entry or fast or slow. You just try to lift off just a little bit of the throttle and be constantly very careful on the throttle, because -- wind it up on exit on 4. So you never know how you are going to be on exit. And then no banking at all. This definitely is pretty much flat. I believe it's one line, unless the car is really good, but with this configuration of wings, we are definitely going to have one line only.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, of course, that was a little weird for me, starting in a situation like three in the same row, and, as well, was really far away. I had to follow the guy inside me, and for me it, was like unusual. Normally, we really ride on the gear box of the other guy. When they start, I was like -- it was just so far away. I think -- it turns to be when you have a wreck or in front of you, just one car or a lot of people, I was able to avoid the accident. Yes, a couple, beginning of the laps of the race, accidents, people spinning or trying to go to fast. I was just waiting. If fact I call my engineer, Andy and said, "Listen, is the temperature on the tire okay?" "No, we didn't go fast enough yet." So we just trying to make sure that when we start, we are able to be careful. And my car was working very good after half a tank. On the full tank, wasn't the best, a lot of understeer, and that's what I think kept me with the patience, until I wait for the right moment to go for it.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, Rick, yes, he is still with me. He is still with Penske 17 years already. It was actually the same crew from CART was the same one that was changing my tires and doing exactly the fuel strategy and everything. I just changed cars. On the speedway, especially at Indy, you don't feel much the downforce. It is pretty much a very -- you try to trim it out as much as you can. Because of a lack of power, you want -- any, like one inch of burning, you gain a lot of in speed. You lose a downforce, as well, but you gain much more in speed. You just have to keep on full throttle. You have the momentum, carry momentum. You can have traffic because the power is not enough, and our car, sometimes it's very difficult because we have the turbo, and the turbo kicks in; you have the wheels spin and you've spun. In fact, this has happened to me at Nazareth this year. At least in that part, just have to find the momentum, be clever and keep going.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Oh, yes. So far, yes. I don't know if I may allowed to use a number 1 or not, but yes. Right now, I'm going to be focused on the CART series, and next year, we're going to go back. Depend on Roger. Does not depend on me.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Certainly create a better feeling. But I -- in our situation, champ cars is always very competitive, like ten drivers, 15 drivers has a chance to win the race, as well. I wasn't worried about that, and I'm not worried about that. I know it was really tough and I know oval is going to be really tough. Like I said, it's 500 miles, and during the race, about three hours and a half, of five, seven pit stops, anything could happen and you just have to be smart. I think I'm learning to be smart.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Here we go. So far, we are doing great. You guys give me great support, so I have to thank you and keep let's keep going.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, when I start driving, of course, I was like -- it was the same focus in Brazil, going to Europe and try keep carrying on to Formula 1, and -- but I got a better opportunity. Went to America and we won Tasman in 1996. And in that situation, Indy, I know the situation with CART and IRL was already separate. So I never thought that we will go back. But I was watching, of course, because it was a very special race, and, of course, when Roger decided to go, I said, "Well, I guess we have to get prepared." And I was prepared. We were prepared, every everyone on the team. Like I said, we did a lot of preparation, and last Sunday it paid off.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I was 11th, and like I said, the space were so far away that -- a lot of dusty, as well. I don't know why, but a lot of dusty, as well. I could not see even the car in front of me. Just make sure that I would be able to go for Turn 1. No, I didn't notice. I was expecting that maybe because a lot of people telling me that. I think I was already prepared, so I was able to do everything fine. And I think in the end, Turn 1 turns to be the best one what I was doing in the race, better than everyone, because 1 and 2, I remember I was able to save myself under attack and 3 and 4, everybody was pretty much equal. I think I understood the -- Turn 1 and I, we got in agreement, so we did okay later.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, my parents were there with me. They were really happy. They were on the podium, so that was an experience of a lifetime. I didn't have a chance much to talk with people in Brazil. The press in Brazil, I understand there was a very good coverage, and a lot of people was watching them, most of Brazil was watching. I heard that people were doing parties. I'm the one that won the race, but they are the one that gets to party, you know. But I understand that everybody is really into this thing, and I'm glad. I'm going back -- I'm going after Milwaukee to Brazil, and a lot of people requesting and so I want to make sure that I do exactly what I was doing here in America. It's nice. It's a special feeling. It's great for us. A lot of Brazilian drivers, especially in the CART series, and I want to make sure I -- like many, many Brazilians inspire me to race, I want to make sure that I inspire a lot of kids, too.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: That was a surprise. I tell you, I just, of course, I'm young. I still have a lot of opportunity. But like I said, I want to make sure that I focus on my job here. I want to make sure that I accomplish my goals here, and I'm happy. You know, like Roger is probably the one that people if you want talk to me, probably people going to talk to him first anyway, because he is the one that one holding the contract to for me next year. But I don't care about that. I just want to make sure I keep on doing what I'm doing, working hard, because that's what it takes and keep winning races, because I'm always going to be happy.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Thank you very much, and I hope to talk to you guys soon.