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Ron Richards: The guest we have today is one of our bright young drivers in our series. This is his third team in his three champ car seasons. Last race at Long Beach he finished second for the third time in his 41 starts that he's had in champ car racing. He's finished second also at Gateway and Milwaukee. He won the pole for our Milwaukee race last year. In two previous races in Brazil, he started 11th both times and finished 25th and 23rd. He is 6th in our current point standings coming out of the two races we've had so far. He lives in Miami. He's a native of Brazil, and that's where he is today, and that's Helio Castro-Neves. Good afternoon.
Question: Welcome to our group today, and I'll start it off, I just wanted to ask you quickly, you know, this is, as we said, is a home race for, and you what does it mean for you to be able to go back and race with everybody in Brazil?
And, of course, it's for the fans, for the Brazilian fans, it's great as well, because you know that we can count -- normally in the soccer here, they say they are the extra player when they start cheering and help the team to win the games. So I hope they are going to be extra driver as well helping to see if we can be successful here. Question: Helio, this track, it represents -- it's kind of unique because it's called a "roval," and could you describe a lap around the track, where you have to brake and accelerate etc., Etc.?
But as soon as your braking point for both turns and downshift to third gear, makes it very hard to stop the car and also unstable because of the bumps, and also because you have a very low downforce. So it's a tough track, but I believe a lot of people have the opportunity to overtake because of the two long straightaways. And I'm sure it's going to be very exciting this year. Everybody been working a lot on the circuit and also we have the unique thing about the safety issue, which means the tire walls on both turns, which I said one and four; so, basically, it's safe for the drivers and also safe because of the equipment. But that does not mean the driver can take a chance at the turn, but it's a great circuit and it's tough, but it will be good. Question: When you're setting up the car, what do you go back to your engineers and tell them about how to set up the car or how you're feeling while you're running the Rio course?
So we're going to start with the basic setup on the suspension, the mechanical, which the previous years that Marlboro Team Penske has been using, even though it's a different chassis, we still take the information of the -- the information that the team has. So we're going to be okay. I'm sure it's going to be a very fast -- during the practice, like I said. The main two straightaway will be very important point to be fast because it's very long, and if you be fast there, you're going to kill a lot of time. But also you have to stop well to make the turns, and so you have to have a very well-balanced -- it's going to be tough, because this year, as everybody knows are so competitive. And anything, if the car is good on the braking point, the car is good over the bumps, which it looks like not much difference, but will be any key, any little small thing will be important for this racetrack. Question: Do you think this year you're going to be able to turn around your record at Rio and finish up front?
Question: Couple of questions, Helio. First of all, there's a number of Brazilian drivers in this series. How do the local fans rate you guys? Who is the number one hero, you?
But the public and the fan, each time we go over there it's growing. Last year it was great. And I remember the first year that was in '96, actually, my first year, Andre won the race and it was beautiful. Everybody was really into -- and it's still Andre today, people think that he is still racing on the series, and that's why, because it's such a glamorous race here and it's special for us like you said, the Brazilians. So I don't see any favorite driver, for the fans of course, everybody has their favorite ones. Sau Paulo they are looking for Christian, myself, that we've been living there, Tony, like different place like Brasilia (ph), looking for him and Cristiano from the other states. So it's funny, but that's what is nice about this sport, because everybody is at least looking for and trying to be there. Especially this year, we're going to have a holiday after the race, so I believe it's going to be packed, and I hope, because it's going to be fun. Question: There's been a rumor or report that you and Emerson (Fittipaldi) are at odds and he's sued you. Is there any truth to this?
But these things, it's a kind of a personal conversation, and I'm sure he -- one day everything will be resolved. Question: Is there a lawsuit in the works or anything like that or is it just, as you say, an internal dispute between the two of you?
T.E. McHALE: Just to amplify a point about the number of Brazilian drivers in the series, there are nine on the entry list for this weekend. They are Tony Kanaan, Christian Fittipaldi, Roberto Moreno, Mauricio Gugelmin, Luiz Garcia, Jr., Gualter Salles and Cristiano da Matta. So it's a wide group of Brazilians representing us in the series. Brazil leads the Nations Cup competition at this point in the 36 to 34 over Canada. Question: Talk about the season thus far and just for the pure fact of what it's been like driving for Roger Penske?
But, of course, we're already past the phase that everything is set and everything is signed and I'm racing for Roger. From now on, I have to work twice as hard as I've been working, not because it's a great team, but also it's because everybody wants to win and everybody wants to really get a great result, and that's why I'm on the team and so it's been great. I've been learning a lot. You don't imagine how much I'm been learning every time I go out on the track, every time I talk with them I'm learning something different. So that's what is good about. I have great people around me, Tim Cindric, which has joined the team as well, also Roger, and also my teammates, which is great for me. Sometimes they talk bad things about us because we're speaking Portuguese and nobody understands us, but that's great. It's been a very good relationship, like a family. And also learning with the king of ovals, which is Rick Mears. So honestly, it's been great. It's been very, very good. But I tell you, I'm working really, really hard to learn everything, not only with that, equipment is different, like Honda, Reynard, Firestone. So actually, to make a long story short one, it's been great. Question: And standing on the podium at Long Beach and looking over there and seeing the top step with Paul Tracy on it, did you dream a little bit on Sunday a week ago?
But, because of the situation that I was racing there, I have to save a lot of fuel, a lot of fuel, and I have to thank Tim Cindric and also (inaudible), working with me because they gave me all the information that I need to save enough fuel to finish the race. And not only that, I have also Jimmy Vasser all over me. So if you guys watch the race, it was like crazy because I have to save fuel, finish the race and also hold Jimmy Vasser because he's trying to overtake me. So it was a great race, and really enthusiastic for the results. Of course, bring more enthusiasm to come over here in my country and especially with good results. So let's see if we can repeat this result, or at least go one step ahead of it. Question: I wonder if you could expand more on how driving the Honda has been this year compared to the Mercedes last year?
So again, I felt the same thing end of the straightaway, torque everything are pretty much the same. But very different definitely was the drivability, and also a lot of things that you can do on the engine to fit the driver. So that's why you can see different drivers, but also with Honda engine, doing well, because they can fit the engine for your style. So you can change a lot of things. And that's one thing that I'm learning, honestly. I see Gil running and I notice change a lot of things, the engine and I have never had this idea before, because with the Mercedes, just different things. So kind of -- it's a new experience for me, but it's great, because you start understanding more about it and you know how it can make the difference. All of the sudden, people think, oh, wow, hundreds of power. No, it's just a little small thing, but, of course, in the end makes a big thing. Question: Racing at home, some drivers would just assume not race at home because of the extra -- extra time demands that they have put on them. How do you feel?
And the same thing here. It's great because the fans that come over you and you see different people calling your name, you know, "come on, that was a great result," or "we've been rooting for you and everything is going to be okay." So, you know, it's great that everybody been calling you or calling your name or want on autograph especially from your country, and the nice thing also is younger drivers, go-cart, they still want to have -- I want to drive like Helio, it's great because one day, I remember I was like them as well. I was looking for Emerson. (Inaudible) Today they are looking at me. It's great, I like it a lot, racing over here, and I hope we give a great result. Question: Going into your home race, obviously there's a whole lot of demands on your time. What kind of things have you been involved with PR-wise, etc., And have you had a lot of time for your family?
So it's been like funny and fun as well, but, of course, I'm leaving tonight already to go to Sau Paulo and have some meetings with some personal sponsors, and Thursday I'll be in Rio. So Marlboro has been very good. They always give me some work to do, and it's not going to be different here. So it's been a pleasure to work with them. Question: Regarding the tire walls that you mentioned earlier, are these the tire walls that have conveyor belts and how are they different from last year?
That's one of the nice things about this race, because, you know, that we go in very fast, but you know that we have safety at the end much the straightaway. So of course driver, because of that, takes a little bit of more chance, but it's great. It's just for us good and make spectacular and the show much better. Question: Are yours and Gil's setups pretty much the same or do they differ and how is it having a partner this year?
But we started basically very similar because we drive on driving the same style. And during the race weekend, different tracks make -- you have different habits, so basically, you start going to a different direction as well. So, for example, in Homestead we have the same setup and Long Beach we have a different setup. So it just depends on the opportunity when you are out there on the track and the opportunity when you are -- when you are different. So the good thing is, we have been working together and we share information a lot and both of us is going out all the time. Question: And I notice in Long Beach there were a lot of people who were really Helio fans and some of them had inquired whether you had a fan club or not. How can we find out if you do have a fan club?
T.E. McHALE: Helio, thanks for being with us this afternoon. Best of luck in your hometown race -- or your homeland race, the Rio 200, and through the rest of the FedEx Championship Series season.
T.E. McHALE: Thanks to all of you who took the time to join us this afternoon, and we'll talk to you next week.
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