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T.E. McHale: Welcome to the CART Media Teleconference. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to be with us today. Our guest this afternoon is driver Cristiano da Matta of Newman/Haas Racing the winner of Sunday's FedEx Championship Series Season opener the Tecate Telmex Monterrey Grand Prix presented by Herdez in Monterrey, Mexico. Good afternoon Cristiano and congratulations and thanks for joining us today.
T.E. McHale: Cristiano, the driver of the NO. 6 Texaco, Havoline, KMart Toyota Lola recorded his second career FedEx Championship Series victory Sunday in his 41st start. His inaugural victory came at Chicago last year. It was Cristiano's first start for Newman/Haas Racing where he replaces veteran Michael Andretti and who has moved on to Team Motorola. This marks the first of 19 seasons in which the Newman/Haas Racing has not had at least one Andretti either Michael, his father Mario, or both, in the driver's seat. Sunday's victory was also the team's 8th season opening win in FedEx Championship Series competition joining triumphs by Mario Andretti at Long Beach in 1984, 1985, 1987 and at Phoenix in 1988. Nigel Mansell at Australia in 1993 and Michael Andretti at Homestead in 1997 and 1998. Cristiano leads the FedEx Championship Series driver standings for the first time in his career following Sunday's victory and heading into Round 2 the April 8th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, he stands first in the series with 21 points. With that we will begin taking questions for Cristiano. Good afternoon, do you have a question for Cristiano da Matta. Question: Did you have a concept of how quickly the team was geling?
It is the start and everything is not going as fast as -- when everybody of course is working with each other for a long time. So after November and December we got into January. I felt like our performance in testing improved a lot and we were able to make a lot bigger steps during test days, make a lot more improvement on the car during those test days in January and February then before. Then I was used to in the past. So I knew that we were getting along really good and really -- and of course getting better everyday, so I knew we were ready to start. Question: Congratulations and you were really a star, everybody noticed you right off the bat when you got to CART Racing. One of the few drivers have driven both Formula 3000 and Indy Lights. Which have those two series, Formula 3000, Indy lights do you think prepared you better for CART Racing?
Question: Maybe that is the answer to the question.
Question: Way to go Mr. Rock & Roll?
Question: It looked like you had a little bit of fun out there with Kenny Brack. Was there a point where you thought maybe he might take the both of you out and talk a little bit about the battle that you two had?
Fortunately his two overtaking maneuvers didn't go right because from inside the car, driving ahead, the places he tried to pass me I was sure he wasn't going to be able to pass. Actually one of the opportunity I actually let him by because I knew there wasn't anyway he was going to make it through the turn. So just waited 'til he passed by me then I turned and of course he couldn't make it. So -- but, yeah, we were having fun but I had to keep a real close eye on him. I think he drove a very good race, but it was just a situation like off line it was so dirty that it made his life a little bit more difficult. Question: Did you laugh each time when he went off the course and went through the grass?
Question: What do you think is going to be the most important way to keep your momentum going? Last year we saw the season opener winner not capitalize on it. A lot of people wouldn't want to see that happen to you. What do you think you personally and the team would have to do to keep the momentum going?
Question: Certainly strong future in Mexico but do you see anything that really gives this venue a foot hold in the CART calendar in many years to come?
Question: Talk about the track at Long Beach and the difference between the track in Mexico?
At Long Beach, is a different thing. It is a very, very bumpy circuit. So the way to set up the car I am sure is going to be pretty different in both of these race tracks. My expectations are good for Long Beach. We have been doing good off-season testings at Sebring which is a bumpy track too and the same kind of rough circuit as we have at Long Beach. So I would imagine that we are going to have a good car there, a good competitive car there. It is tough to know how competitive we are going to be because the way the series is today, it is just so competitive sometimes you just get to the racetrack you don't know if you are going to be Top-5 or Top 15 or Top 20. So there is always this question mark, you know, ahead. But we are working hard here on our setup. We are improving a few details we know we could have done better in Mexico, and we just waiting to get there. But I am pretty confident about what we have in our hands right now. Question: Are you in Brazil?
Question: I want to ask you a question about the pit stops. I think your team used the new system of the vent person, not the vent hose, that is the fueling you used the single unit refueling system, then air-jack hose with the crew men in the rear of the car. Are you aware whether your team did that?
Question: Do you think that that helped your pit stops because I know you got out in front very quickly on your stops.
The fact is we were able to try those things on the car and actually do some pit stops practicing with that in the test with he we had at Laguna back in February, so we were pretty confident about the system. And we knew that we wouldn't be losing anything to the other system and we were doing a lot better with safety with this new system. So we decided to go for it. Question: Seems to work for you. Congratulations.
Question: By all intents -- by everybody's measure the race was a huge success, but there were some people who said there could have been more passing. The track was dirty which I guess was a major factor in not being able to pass. Do you feel there is anything else that maybe could be done to that track to enhance the opportunity to pass for next year?
I think there were some passing going on. Of course there is never going to be like one of our races in Michigan or Fontana, it is just a different type of racing. I think people have to understand that. But I think the track is pretty good. The natural use of the racetrack from now on, just by having more races there, some other series racing there, I am sure when we go back there next year I am sure there will be more than one line on the racetrack and that will help passing just by the track being more used, something normal for a new road course. Question: Talk about the track conditions that you found out there, especially toward the end of the race when the track seemed to be deteriorating, did that make your driving more difficult?
It definitely -- the track was deteriorating from the beginning of the race. It was actually something that was happening already on the Indy Lights race. It is strange because during the whole race weekend we never had anything and we had long sessions on the racetrack. Maybe it was a little bit warmer on Sunday or just cars going through there all the time. But it definitely made everybody's life a little bit more difficult, especially on that turn where we hardly, hardly had a line wide enough for one car. Sometimes you actually had to go a little bit over the curb just to make yourself room enough for all the four years on the clean line. So it was definitely a challenge. Question: Given the amount of run-off area out there looks like they could actually make that track a little bit wider for next year. Formula 1 takes a stance that they won't race anyplace where somebody else hasn't already checked out the track for them. Do you think that would be a good idea for CART?
Question: Your win in the first race, does that change the way you drive in the next few races to acquire points? Do you become more aggressive to maintain first place or do you sit back to start getting points to start building the season toward the Championship?
Question: Long Beach different track, I would think it requires a different mental mindset. You found a very wide open check on a road course in Mexico. That is a very different condition than you are going to find at Long Beach where the walls are in close and there is a lot of bumping and banging that might be going on. Do you take a fighter's mentality in a track like Long Beach where you may have to literally fight for every inch that you get on the track?
Question: Talk about the chassis development and also the development that you noticed in the Toyota engine. The chassis seemed to be fairly close; obviously yours won. Then with a Penske Reynard and then a Reynard. What are you seeing as similarities and what are you seeing as advantages?
Question: About the Toyota engine, this is -- you have got some experience with it. How have they improved for this year?
Question: What does Cristiano do in this long gap between this race and Long Beach?
I am going to have a lot of time to do a lot of stuff. I am going to probably spend a few days back home in Brazil, spend some days here. It is so much time I don't even know yet. . Question: I watched the race on tape this morning and it looked to me like Kenny Brack really tried to make a pass on you after both of you were called to come into pits within two or so laps. That surprised me. Did that surprise that he tried to pass you?
Question: I think he tried to pass you and you tucked in right behind his rear wing but he had too much speed and he went off the track. I think this was before the pit stop. So my question is: As a driver can you tell if the person, the other driver is not going to make the turn and if there was anybody else that you worried about behind you later in the race?
Question: We talked briefly about the walls and the street condition, Long Beach. There has been a lot of talk lately about safety in motor sports in road racing. What is your mind set going into a place like Long Beach where the walls are right there and as you stated, you still have to charge hard to do well in the race.
Question: If I am not mistaken CART requires a HANS on the ovals, but do you wear it during road events?
I have been lucky to find one of those devices that fits me pretty well and I was able to get comfortable with it straight-a-way. I know there are a lot of people that have a lot of complaints about when the track is bumpy and all, that but I -- in the off-season was tested in Sebring and Laguna which is two very tough and physical tracks and I didn't have a problem so I decided I am ready to use it everywhere now. Question: A question about television. Obviously you were in Mexico so you couldn't see what was shown in Brazil, but were you interviewed for Brazilian TV that was shown the same day, out of the car after the race?
Question: The reason I am asking because American TV went off before and they were trying to talk to you on the radio in the helmet. Typically in Brazil the guys are seen the night of the race?
Question: They save enough time to talk to you afterwards.
T.E. McHale: At this point we will let Cristiano go for the afternoon. Cristiano, thank you for being with us this afternoon. Congratulations again on your victory on Sunday and the best luck like through the remainder of the 2001 FedEx Championship Series Season.
T.E. McHale: Thanks to all of you who took the time to be with us this afternoon. We will talk to you next week. | ||||||
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