CART MEDIA CONFERENCE

April 10, 2001

Helio Castroneves

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Good afternoon, everybody. It's definitely very nice and a pleasure to be with you guys.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: No doubt about it, I did a test there, and it's a very fast circuit. I think it's going to be a very exciting race, as well. It's going to be pretty much the same as Fontana, speed, with the exception that the track is smaller. I think it's going to be like a big pack of a lot of cars running together. The only concern is the drivers have to watch the mirrors because as soon as you get off the banking, you going (inaudible) in the straightaway front, so you make sure nobody is on your outside or on your inside because that might cause a little -- cause accident. I think everybody is aware and everybody knows. The only concern is everybody is watching the mirrors.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I'm sure everybody is going to start Friday and Saturday doing the best that they can to set up the car, make sure that the car going fast. I think it's going to be the same as normal weekend. Just a matter of who is find the setup first than the other one. My car, I run pretty fast over there. I'm feeling very strong. I'm sure it's going to be a great exciting race for everybody.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: That's why it's important in this championship to be consistent. Last year I didn't have -- I believe I have only 10 or 12 points on the ovals overall. All my rest of the points on the road course or street circuit. That's why I'm going to go for it, yes. That's why it turns more competitive this series because some drivers go much better on the ovals, some drivers like street circuits, whatever. In our situation, we going to make sure that we have a consistent car running in the front or at least running to the points because that's what it's going to take.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Basically it's not that I prefer or something like that. I try actually in '99, when I start from the pole, make the same thing what I did on the road course. Unfortunately, we have a mechanical failure. It's more I think on the ovals, it's much more competitive, you know. Everybody on the traffic, the guy maybe start way in the back, he can work his way up of doing traffic and everything. It's just depend the way you set up your car for the race. You know what I'm saying? I think for Texas, the rest of the ovals, we have a fast car. We just going to make sure that we prepare better for overtaking, all those kind of thing. I don't have basically a type of track. Give me the car, I'll sit down and go for it. That's my philosophy (laughter).

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, definitely the guy upstairs, Lord, make sure that I keep my head small. Not only him, but my family, as well. My sister, my mom and dad, they make sure that I keep my head smaller enough to put in my helmet, you know (laughter). I don't want to say somebody come to me and say do this and that. I think experience give you this guide and this way towards the victory line or something like that. Sometimes you have an opportunity. Sometimes you going to learn different opportunities. That's what I'm saying. I mean, I got great opportunity starting from the pole. I knew if I keep running consistent, I'm sure to be able to bring home. Of course, the yellow flag came at the right moment. Everything you have to be confidence. My team, oh, they did a fantastic job in the pits. This is very important. It's a team effort. Everybody have to work together. Definitely if I'm starting from the pole position, unless the car breaks, you might have to bet your money on me. I don't want to sound cocky, but I'm just saying, you just have to know how -- when I learned that last year, winning race, that was great you know. This year it's going to be the same thing. Like I said, can you never count with outside of your control. The engine might failure, tire, whatever. Something might failure. But what's on my control, that situation, it's very difficult to make a mistake. I'm glad I achieved that point. I'm not saying I learn everything. I still have a lot to learn. This series, wow, every race you learn something different. I'm glad I have this mind and this way to thinking. If you say you learn everything, you going to be in the back of the pack.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, so far I'm doing this photo shoot for Marlboro here in Fontana. Friday and Saturday I'm going to Indy, test two days over there. I guess I will have only one week off. I don't know. Work out a lot. Make sure I'm in shape for the next race in Texas.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: In terms of -- yes, I think if you look at that way, break the rhythm, no doubt about. You have to see also the small teams, when they no have the budget, they have to go like the same way (laughter). I believe it just a matter of you sit down and take a few laps on the track. I think you be comfortable again. But I think maybe it's a good system for the small teams. I was joking the other day. Now I'm one of the best team, and they used to test a lot. Now they cut off the testing. I'm like, man, I'm here (laughter). I think this is just a -- it doesn't matter. It's just the way you have to be concern. Even that we not testing, the team is still working on the car, making sure that everything going to be ready for next race. That's it. That's the way it happen.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I will say holy macaroni (laughter). It's really, really fast. Yes, I'll definitely do that. Going to turn one, the feeling is exactly the same as you going to the end of straightaway of Fontana or Michigan. You know, very fast, the turns approaching. When you actually reach turn one and two, wow, the G's are strongly. It's amazing, the car doesn't move at all. Anything doesn't move at all. You just no make sure you going to go flat or not (laughter). It's a very fast corner. Back straight, it's no problem. It's shorter than Fontana, of course. But, again, approaching to the turn three and four, same way. The only little issue which everybody have to take care of it, it's when you get off the turn four because the banking, it's like really dramatic change. If people not looking at the mirror, it's going to touch wheel to wheel. You don't want that thing happen, especially in that kind of speed above 220. Also the two (inaudible) on the front straightaway, which is flat easy. But again, turns to be excited because you have to move your line. If you have two cars, one in low line, the other one the high line, you have to make sure that the guys do a good job and keep the line, otherwise.... It's going to be a close race. I'm sure it's going to be great, spectacular. Like I said, everybody have to pay attention to everyone and take care of each other.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, I tell you, we did the race in Phoenix. We race in Long Beach. Once you got going, the hard, difficult times was the beginning when you didn't know the car, when you don't have your seat, when you don't have your headrest, steering wheel. You know, that type of thing kind of disturbing a little bit because you not comfortable enough. Once you got everything sorted out, it's pretty much just change cars. Takes two or three laps to adapt for the speed and the way shifting gears and everything. Then that's it. You back in the game. Of course, we cannot forget to mention that Indy is a fantastic feeling that I think anybody, not even a driver, but anybody, would like to drive, (inaudible) win, but drive. I would feel special winning that race. It's very, very difficult over there. One, two, three, four corners are completely different. Thank God we have Rick Mears on our side. I have much more respect on that guy, especially winning four times. He is great. I mean, anything he sees over there, it's like God saying about that track, you know (laughter).

HELIO CASTRONEVES: No, actually I did. It was great. Worked fantastic, like Fontana and Michigan for me. Was pretty much that was one of my concern. When I got there, I was able to run that line. It was great. I was really happy I was able to do that.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I think we were about 4 G's, 3.9 or something. It's about 4 G's. You can feel your left leg going to above your right leg. You have to keep hold everything, drizzling from your mouth (laughter). You can feel it. Running by itself, it's great, great fun. I didn't have a chance to run like in a race, like four or five cars together. I don't think it's going to be as fast as in the practicing time. Probably speeds going to drop for five miles an hour. It's going to be fast. It's going to be great.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, the way that I drive, the HANS doesn't affect in terms of supporting or something like that. In fact, if you say that it helps, I believe so. I had a crash here at Fontana 247 miles an hour. I didn't get out walking just to make sure we are fine. Next day I was walking with just a stiff neck. Definitely a little sore muscle I was having. Definitely helps a lot. Today I'm here to tell you guys what happened. I believe everybody should use at least on the oval.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: No. I don't think I'll go home. I'm going to go to Miami, make sure I work out hard and keep ready for Texas.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: That's the thing, make sure I not going to hurt myself (laughter).

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I don't think I could ask for better. I mean, start from pole position, led all the laps, fastest lap, finish first. Definitely was a perfect weekend. But wasn't like Friday we were right there. No, no, no. I knew how I have to do some work. I knew we had very good car since the testing times. Unfortunately, Monterrey, we had a broke gear, fourth gear. I couldn't be able to finish higher than 8th. I knew if nothing happened here, we would have -- we would do a good job. I'm glad that the team did a fantastic job. Was a great weekend for Marlboro Team Penske. I'm very optimistic and happy what happen. I know it's going to be a lot harder, people going to get much tougher. It's just the beginning.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, my first win was in Detroit last year. I was very much happy about it. I think everybody saw that I was almost getting out of the car, they saw how excited I was. I was like going to the pits, supposed to stop on the pits. I think I made a mistake, stop at the track. When I look to the left, the crowd, they were just went wild. I said, "You know what, I'm going to share this feeling happiness with them." I jump out of the car, grab the fence. I tell you, was a great feeling. Even if the guys wasn't cheering for you, all of a sudden they look, "I can't believe that guy doing that." Turns to be a great way to express my feelings and to express my emotion and happiness. Everybody have emotion, even the people that just win a race and raise their hands. You know they have emotion when the car breaks, throwing steering wheel out, kicking the helmet, whatever, saying bad things. I just expressed my emotion differently. I just expressed the happiness, which I think nice for everybody see instead of see the angry part. When I did it once, why not do it twice? We keep doing that. I think it's a nice way to compensate the fans and sharing a little bit the feeling how happy I was.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I tell you what, these guys, they are doing a fantastic job. Every crew member, of course I'm in a situation with Marlboro Team Penske, the guy that these guys doing, they work very hard. I mean, towards the end of the night, wake up very early. Make sure that the car (inaudible) tires very well, make sure the car running well. It's just a great satisfaction to celebrate a victory with your team buddies. They are part of your team. I mean, if they don't do a good pit stop, I mean, nothing you can do running well during the racetrack. I'm glad I have a great relationship with my guys. I'm going to keep working hard to keep doing that.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, there is in the rule book this year that if you don't stop on the marks, they say you going to get fined. I said, "Okay, I don't want to cause any trouble." But when the team said, "No, no, no, you keep doing that." I said, "Okay, I have no problem with that." It's just a great feeling, you know. That's my way, I mean, to show people how happy. It's so hard to be on the race team. It's so hard to be in the CART series. When you finally get a chance, it's so hard to win a race, I mean, these people needs to know how tough is to win a race or how tough is to be there. This is just not happen like yesterday I decide to be a race car driver and jump in the car and that's it. No, it takes a long time. I mean, basically was my whole life. I think just me and my family know how hard what it was to be in the position that I'm in. I think that's why I express myself grabbing the fence and jumping. I feel very comfortable doing that because it gives the people and fans a way to express and share a little bit of the happiness.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Thank you.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Fortunately, if that's what they said on the drivers' meeting, that's why they have two lanes, to make sure that the driver doesn't go all the way up. I think this is racing. You just have to keep going. Nothing you can do in the past. Sometimes drivers -- there are different drivers, the ones that are smart enough to slam on the brake and not make the crash. The other one just go for it and they don't care. I tried just to avoid an accident and make sure that I do the job on the track. That's the race condition. You just have to keep going, knowing your competitors. That's why we did the race in Phoenix so we know what we have to do.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, Gil and I work great, at least that's my view. We make sure both cars running fast. I mean, we share some information. I mean, we don't hide anything. That's because we want to make sure -- I prefer him on my tail instead of other driver because we know that Roger will be upset if both cars taking each other. We don't want to say Roger's face angry (laughter). Basically we just trying, like we did Laguna, Mid-Ohio, Portland. I think that's the way it works well for whole team. We don't have a specific number one. Well, we have a number one and a number three (laughter). It's just a number. The way that plays out is a situation on the championship. Last year he had a better opportunity, a better finish. I had a lot of, unfortunately, problems with whatever happen, you know. I will be very happy he and I battle each other. That will create a much more excitement to the fans and in our team than different drivers.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I need to do one in oval.

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Thank you.