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T.E. McHALE: Good afternoon to everyone. Welcome to the CART Media
Teleconference. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to be with us
today.
I'd like to open this afternoon by turning the call over to Team
KOOL Green owner Barry Green who would like to make a very special
announcement.
Barry Green:
Thanks T.E. and thank you everyone for being with us.
I am actually calling you from Klein Tools Headquarters here in Chicago and
a very exciting announcement for me and for Team KOOL Green as we have just
signed a new two-year contract with Dario Franchitti.
So it's really exciting news for us. We've built up a tremendous
relationship with Dario. He's done a tremendous job for our team and I
think all of our partners KOOL, Klein Tools, Honda, Firestone are all very,
very excited about extending this relationship. So really good news for us.
We've got plenty of races left in this season to have a go at the
Championship this year; then two more exciting years to follow. Thank you.
T.E. McHale:
Thank you, Barry, and congratulations to you and Dario
and everyone at Team KOOL Green.
Some quick background on Dario before we begin taking questions.
He's in his fifth FedEx Championship Series season and his fourth with Team
KOOL Green. In 1999 he finished runner-up to Juan Montoya of Target/Chip
Ganassi Racing in the closest FedEx Championship Series Championship in
history, which Montoya won on the tie-breaker of most race victories when
the two finished the season with exactly 212 Championship points.
Dario also finished third in the 1998 FedEx Championship Series
Championship during his inaugural season with Team KOOL Green. He owns
seven race victories including one this season at Cleveland and 10 career
pole positions in FedEx Championship Series competition.
Dario claimed his first career FedEx Championship Series victory at
Road America, site of this weekend's Motorola 220 in 1998. He is also the
defending polesitter there and holds the track qualifying record of 145.924
miles per hour established last year.
Dario enters this weekend's Motorola 220 ranked fourth in the FedEx
Championship Series Championship with 81 points.
The Motorola 220, Round 14 of the FedEx Championship Series, will be
televised live on ESPN this Sunday, August 19th beginning at 1 p.m.
Eastern Time.
With that, we'll open it up to questions for Dario or Barry.
Question: Dario, when you came over here just talk about how long you
thought you might be here, maybe a two-year deal head back to Formula 1 and
just how this thing has evolved and what you are looking at for the future?
Dario Franchitti: How are you doing, first of all, Robin?
Question: Good.
Dario Franchitti: I didn't really know how long I would be over
here. In the case of the first season with Hogan Racing, if I did a good
job then we would see what would happen at that point. Then Barry and I did
our deal together. And I really didn't know, you know, what was going to
happen. Basically what's happened is I have been enjoying myself over here,
enjoying the racing, so I am still here.
I am really happy with the team. I love working with Barry and so
that's one of the reasons I am still here. It is a great bunch of guys.
And to have such a long-term relationship, I think you have to have that
enjoyment and you have to first--one of the biggest things is they give me
a chance to win races and championships.
Question: Following up, was it the kind of thing though that you thought:
Well, I will come here and get some experience, did--what did you think
you were going to find when you came here? Did you expect it to be as
competitive as you found it to be or I guess maybe what your expectations
were when I came here.
Dario Franchitti: I didn't really have too many expectations. It's
was a big change around for me because I had been driving a touring car in
Germany and then to come over here and drive a Champ Car it was a huge
change so I really didn't know what to expect. I didn't have any really
preconceived ideas. I thought it would be reasonably competitive. It just
seems to become more so every year and a bit more difficult. So that
certainly keeps me honest and provides a challenge every year.
Question: Can you just discuss a little bit the factors involved in what
led you to decide that the best thing for you was to stay here a couple of
more years?
Dario Franchitti: Well, the first thing, you know, I have to do what
makes me happy first of all, and this season I have had one of the most
enjoyable that I have ever had, racing anything from when I started racing
go-karts. That was the first thing really. That was the No. 1 decision--what
was going to make me happy. What's going to provide, you know, a
chance to win races, the chance to win championships. The guys can do that,
and that was the main decision.
Formula 1 is something that I still look at and think about, but as
I say, it's very important for me to be at--whatever I am doing to be
happy and be competitive. Team KOOL Green and Barry and everybody else on
the team provided that chance. I am happy to be extending the agreement for
another couple of years.
Question: Was this something where talks have been in the works for a
while with you and Barry, say, I'd like to work something out, stay here a
couple more years? Can you just kind of talk about the dynamics of what
kind of brought this together?
Dario Franchitti: It was basically, you know, there wasn't any--I
guess some people came up and talked to my agent or whatever talked to
Julian, but my plan was always to stay with Team KOOL Green. I think maybe
Barry, it would be better to talk with him about that. Because Julian and
Barry negotiated everything. It was from my side relatively painless. I
suppose writing the check for Barry was the hard part. But it was all very
painless. I know Barry. I trust him, and it was easy. It was, you know,
just a continuation really of a great relationship.
Question: Barry, I am wondering Barry where you stand in terms of trying
to bring your whole operation to Indy for the 500 next year.
Barry Green: Well, that's something we can look at in the near
future here, Steve. My goal was--my challenge was to keep the team as it
is now; keep Team KOOL Green with Paul and with Dario and I have achieved
that. And I am really excited. Today this was a big hurdle for me and I
didn't want to break up the team. The team has had tremendous, I think,
understanding for each other. We work extremely hard. We've been fast at
almost every single race. Yes, we would like to have won a few more races
than we've won this year, but we've been fast and we've worked hard and
we've had a lot of fun along the way. And that's important to everyone
because it's a tough schedule.
We definitely will look at the Indy 500. I say look at it--as I
said, my primary goal is to have a competitive CART team and to win the CART
Championship. That is the primary goal.
We'll look. We'll wait and see what the schedule looks like for
CART for next year and then look at the Indy 500 as a secondary job.
Question: You have heard what Barry said about the Indy 500. I am
wondering what your feelings are about going back next year?
Dario Franchitti: For me it wouldn't be a sort of going back. It
would be going there for the first time. I have never experienced 500 so
it's really a case of, you know, it's Barry's decision. If Barry says, hey,
we're going to do the 500 then I will be excited to go there and compete in
the race. But right now, as Barry says, my No. 1 priority right now is to
try and win Road America this weekend. From that point on try and win the
FedEx Championship this season. That's what I am trying to do. Then
everything is secondary behind that right now.
Question: Dario, talk about your relationship with Paul and how you two
have really worked together as a team?
Dario Franchitti: Paul and I have worked together from the very
first test we did really. Obviously, we've had our moments on the track when
we've been fighting for position, a couple of times we've had contact, taken
each other out. But we have a good respect for each other and we get on
well. That's very important, first of all. I think we trust each other.
We know we're both out there to beat each other but at the same time we're
trying to get both cars up at the front and working together, that's the
best way to do that. Having Michael as a technical partner is also helping
in that process. It is also great to have a teammate like P.T. First of
all, he's a good guy and that's very important.
Question: Talk about Elkhart Lake, your expectations, what the track is
like for you?
Question: Why do you seem to like road courses better than ovals; is that
a fair statement, first of all?
Dario Franchitti: I think I enjoy driving road courses as my
first--what I am used to, what I came from. But as far as saying more
successful--certainly I have won more races, but as for performancewise
this season, we've been stronger on ovals than we've had on certain road
courses due to circumstances, unfortunately, out of the control of myself
and the team we haven't had the results yet. Performancewise we've been, I
would think, as strong if not stronger than anybody.
Question: After the intelligent move to renew the contract with Barry, I
would like an honest answer about what do you think of today's situation
with Formula 1?
Dario Franchitti: In what way do you mean?
Question: Regarding in general--bad, good, no good?
Dario Franchitti: No, I think from a driver's point of view it's
very difficult because you have to be in one of two teams. Maybe three
teams now to have a chance of winning races. So from that point of view it
is difficult. But I think it's still a very good show. I still watch a lot
as a fan. But it's very difficult from the outside to comment on the
situation but that's just my observations from the outside.
Question: After the first year of curiosity for the return of Formula 1 in
the United States, do you think this year will be the same, we'll have the
same success?
Dario Franchitti: I have no idea. I really don't know.
Question: I wonder if could you rate Dario as far as pure driving talent.
Barry Green: Well, that's hard. I think to be fair. I can only
compare him with drivers that I have worked with and I have been lucky
enough to be with some great drivers. A lot of people have asked how Dario
does compare with drivers that I have worked with. I think Villeneuve is a
very fair comparison because they approach their job in very, very much the
same manner. They expect the cars to be absolutely perfect. They work hard
themselves, both Jacques and Dario worked extremely hard. Jacques worked
extremely hard himself and Dario works extremely hard on getting the car to
how he needs it, and when they do get that car perfect, look out, because
they are the fastest on the track.
I think Jacques was lucky enough to and good enough to win an oval.
The only surprise I have got with Dario is that he hasn't won an oval yet.
But that's not because he hasn't been fast enough. He had had some great
drives on ovals. A couple situations where we've had contact or pitstop
problems and Dario has driven back to the front. He had had some tremendous
drives on the oval.
I think--and I have said this before--that I think Dario
Franchitti is faster on the ovals than Jacques Villeneuve was. So I put
Dario way up there. I put Paul Tracy way up there. I put Michael Andretti
up there. I am very lucky to have these three guys on my team.
Question: Dario, 13th race of the season here at Road America this
weekend, you are just 23 points behind Kenny Brack, no points last week for
you at Mid-Ohio. Is it the point in the season now where you just can't
afford to leave a venue without scoring any points? Is the pressure really
increased at this point in the season?
Dario Franchitti: I think any race during the season is like that.
You can't afford to leave anyplace without points. Unfortunately, sometimes
you do. I think seeing that happen this year to everybody without
exception, whether they are fighting for the Championship or whatever. It
is just one of those things. It's annoying when mistakes are made. For me
it's more annoying when I make the mistake. So I was pretty upset after the
weekend because I made that mistake. But hopefully lifts up our head.
There's enough races enough points left. We have a good chance of
challenging for this Championship. So that's what I am looking forward to.
Question: Last year, traditionally Road America, those who start outside
the first couple of rows haven't fared too well. I guess Paul last year
being the exception especially the way his car shut off and he got it going
again. Is this a track, you know, is there a lot of opportunities in the
past, make some headway, should you be unable to qualify in the first couple
of rows or if you are back in the pack is it that much of a tougher climb?
Dario Franchitti: It's a tough climb, any race is difficult from the
back of the pack. This is a difficult place to pass actually up at Road
America which makes Paul's achievement last year all the more remarkable.
When you consider he didn't have any help from the yellow flags, so I think
he did an exceptional job last year. But it is always handy to qualify up
in the front car row. Every time I am in a qualifying session I am out
there to try and stick the thing on pole position to make the race that bit
easier.
Question: If you were a fan attending Road America what corner would you
prefer to watch the CART race from and why?
Dario Franchitti: During testing I have been around the track and I
have looked at different corners. I would say go to a variety of different
places. Down into Turn 5 is just awesome. Canada Corner is terrific.
Watching the cars come out under the bridge into the last corner is--the
whole place is breathtaking to watch. It looks as exciting from outside as
it is from the inside of the cars. It is a great venue.
Question: Dario, the early forecast right now is the possibility of rain
for this coming weekend. What is Road America like to drive in the rain?
Is it difficult?
Dario Franchitti: Last thing I can remember driving up there the
first race up there in 1997. Yeah, it's pretty difficult getting under the
trees there, it's pretty slick. What tends to happen is that it dries out
in certain places and under the trees it is going to remain wet; when it's a
wet track and a drying track is when it really becomes difficult.
But it's Road America, it is a challenge in any conditions.
Question: Rockingham, you were there, just like to get your impressions of
it, and there has been talk that the ticket sales were not what they were
want them to be at this point. Is your sense that the British fans wait for
the last minute to buy tickets or do you think it is just a matter of maybe
doing a little heavier marketing?
Dario Franchitti: I think first of all, I think it is a terrific
facility. The progress they have made since I was last there in March is
unbelievable. The place looks great. As far as ticket sales and stuff, I
really don't know anything about that. I have read stuff in the press as
well, but I think if you believe everything you read in the press, you know,
there's certain things that are written that maybe aren't true, but I don't
know. I have to say I think they are doing good job and I am sure the fans--
I don't know when they buy their ticket or whatever, but I think anybody
I have spoken to is--they are all going to show up and I think it is going
to be quite a good crowd and be a good atmosphere.
Question: Dario, I wondered psychologically how this positions you? Were
you going through a period of wondering where your career was going to lead?
Does this announcement give you some sort of resolve confidence to move
forward for some duration of time?
Dario Franchitti: No, I don't think it really makes any difference
to me in that regard at all. I think you know, it was just--that's not
something that I really worry about too much. I am only really interested
in with my job and basically do the best I can at any given race. And you
know, as far as direction, I was pretty--I was confident, as I said, I
was very happy, especially after last season which was incredibly difficult,
I need to recharge my batteries which I did over the winter and I came back
for the start of this season feeling--I had a whole new enthusiasm again
for getting out there and driving the car. I think that's continued also
throughout the season. That was one of the reasons as I said I have been
having a great time working with the team this year again and it's just--for
me it is a great thing to be staying there for a couple--another
couple of seasons.
Question: Dario, going into Road America, can you give us a lap?
Dario Franchitti: I'd rather not actually if you don't mind. I tend
not to do that.
Question: Going back to spring training 1997, your first time there, you
and I talked at the baseball game and your perspective of CART then and now,
how much of CART then do you see yourself now?
Dario Franchitti: A lot has happened since then. (Laughs) really.
At that point everything was unknown. I didn't know people. I didn't know
anybody in the paddock. I didn't--watched racing on TV but I wasn't a
part of it. Everything was strange and new. Now, you know, obviously in
the paddock I feel--I know a lot of people in the paddock. I have a lot
of great friends there. I think I understand--everything is a bit more
familiar now. But still surprises you. The one thing is that, you know, in
races--when the race starts you can never--experience only counts so
much because two races are never the same.
Question: It's going to be nice to see you around for a couple more years.
I guess you are happy that Vancouver is on the schedule for three more
years?
Dario Franchitti: Absolutely. Yeah, that was good news. I love
racing out there in B.C. It's awesome. For all sorts of reasons. It's
one of the places I really enjoy coming to.
Question: Do you approach it like another race? I am thinking partially
about what happened last year and not winning the race?
Dario Franchitti: Last year was frustrating. That's putting it
mildly with what happened.
But yeah, obviously Vancouver has a special feeling, special feeling
going out there with it being Greg's hometown and stuff. There's always--
for me there's a different feeling there. Certainly there was going out
there last year, I get to hang out with Rick and Donna and the family and
all those guys. It's definitely a special place from that point of view
because it was Greg's hometown. A lot of great memories from Vancouver.
Question: What is the design on your helmet? What does that symbolize?
Dario Franchitti: It's got the Scottish flag on top with the colors
of the Italian flag running through the sides. The Italian flag obviously
runs up and down but we took a bit of an artistic license and incorporated
the colors in it. Troy does a great job painting it and just makes little
additions here and there to make it a bit more pleasing and a bit more sort
of funky. And on the back it has a small Greg Moore sticker.
Question: Congratulations on the new contract. Can you expand a little
bit on what makes you as a driver happy to be here in the U.S. and drive in
CART other than just winning and being competitive, any other factors
involved in that?
Dario Franchitti: I think that the relationship between people is
very important, the people on the team, for instance, I think you have to be
comfortable, first of all, I am sitting next to Barry here, but, you know,
you have to be the boss guy first of all. There has to be a level of trust
there. I think we've always had that. But last season when things were
pretty difficult on occasion Barry didn't lose any sort of faith and was--
never questioned me; never said hey, you are not doing your job right here;
just keep doing what you are doing, you will be fine. That was key, just
the people on the team, everybody from team manager, Kyle Moyer, to my
engineer, Iain Watt, my mechanics, my crew, the truck drivers, it's just a
great bunch of people. And first of all, that makes me happy, makes me
happy to hang out with those people. I enjoy working with him. I enjoy
winning races with them and hopefully at some point I will get the pleasure
of winning a Championship together with those people. That's what makes me
happy. I enjoy the atmosphere in the paddock with all of the drivers,
that's a great thing as well. But winning is very, very important to me.
But there's more to it than that.
Question: Barry, you have got the entire team back together again next
year. Are the contracts with Klein and your other sponsors long-term or are
they on, say, a two-year basis?
Barry Green: We can't discuss too many details about the contracts,
but having just signed Dario, everything is--it's as long-term as it can
be in motor racing and I am very pleased right now. We've added Michael to
the group this year to--feeling that if we had three strong drivers, three
strong teams working together we would do well. I think we've done very
well. We've been very, very fast in every race. We've not seen the wins
that we wanted, but we've been fast. So we're not about to panic. But I
think that just continuing to build on this relationship, we've got to be
very, very strong again next year. With the partners I have, with Firestone
and of course, Honda, I feel that I am certainly really excited about next
season.
Question: You certainly have a headstart on a lot of people from next
season getting all of this out of the way early?
Barry Green: Thank you, that's important too. Not only important
that the drivers feel good and comfortable. Certainly makes me relaxed a
little bit more. But there's always work for us to do and there's always
work for us to do as far as reaching out to the fans, but I think that it's
good for all my employees. They can sit back knowing that we've got three
great drivers lined up for next year with sponsors to support them. We try
and bring it forward as far as we can because, believe me, it's not a lot of
fun coming down to the 11th hour there trying to get it all done. I have
been there. I have done that. This is the better way and we're real real
pleased.
Question: Barry, talk a little bit about the contract; is the deal
optioned? Does Dario have the option if he gets an opportunity across the
ocean would he of that option to take a look at it?
Barry Green: No, again, I can't talk about too many details,
but as long as we've got a team and sponsors and a building to house those
race cars in place, we've got Dario. So that's the extent of it.
Question: Just a quick one for Dario. We were just kind of wondering was
the pit board person at Mid-Ohio a little bit of the distraction when you
made that mistake?
Dario Franchitti: Absolutely not.
Question: Dario, I keep--what I am trying to--I was reading the latest
Autosport with the story about you in there. You and he are good buddies.
I was standing with him at Fontana a couple of years ago. He was like--just--
I mean he could not believe it. He was just blown away by the whole
thing. In that story you are talking about--Montoya had some quotes too
saying that Formula 1 is still--some of the guys still have--they look
down a little bit on CART. Yet you know you guys both said, hey, until you
try it, don't--you don't really--the four disciplines that you have got
to run, and I just wondered if you looked at the thing as being pretty equal--
it must be pretty equal in your mind, I mean, to keep staying here?
Dario Franchitti: Yeah, of course it is equal. I think, you know,
you look at a guy who can drive a Champ Car quickly and can get in a Formula
1 car. Okay you look at Zanardi, you look at the car Zanardi was in, it was
not a good car. You look at Jacques. Jacques got a great car, was on the
pace straight away. You look at Juan, he got in a good car, and on pace
straight away. That's the difference. You are as good as your car. That
counts in Champ Cars too, but there's a lot more equality through the
equipment.
But I think, you know, you look at Montoya, Montoya was quick here.
He goes over there, he's quick there too. You brought Schumacher here,
yeah, he'd be quick here too. I think when you get the Eddie Irvines of
this world spouting out about what's this and that in a Champ Car, the guy
never had been in a race, never mind, sat in a car so I don't know how he
can say that. He should really concentrate on driving his car right first
before he should comment on our series. But yeah, I think both
Championships are highly competitive. I would say ours is by far more
competitive than Formula I and they are both different but they are both
great shows.
Barry Green: I think to add to that, Jacques saying it is not as
competitive as now--CART is not as competitive now as it was when he was
here is just absolutely a load of rubbish because I would say it is many,
many, many more times competitive when Jacques--than when Jacques was
here. You just look at our qualifying grids and how hard it is to win. So
you know, I think to see Juan go over there and do such a good job. Dario--
(inaudible) it is pretty hard with him over here, you know, equaled the
Championship in points; lost because he just didn't have quite so many wins
but they had some great battles. It is all about teams and personnel and
being comfortable and you see good drivers go this way; you see good drivers
go that way. I'd say they are both great series and I love to watch
Formula 1 and I love to be involved with CART.
Question: The proof in the pudding is that they keep using CART to either
send people over here or pull people back. Obviously the owners in Formula
I obviously have some high regard for it.
T.E. McHale:
I just want to deliver a couple of statistics that
amplify the point that were just being made. Eight different winners in 12
events so far this season, but the telling statistic in my mind is really
that we've had 18 different drivers finish on the podium already this year
and that's barely midway through the season and actually we had 18 by the
midway point. So I think that goes a long way toward telling you how
competitive the FedEx Championship Series is.
I guess we'll wrap it up for the afternoon. We want to thank Barry
Green and Dario Franchitti for being with us. Gentlemen, thanks.
Congratulations. Best of luck at Road America and through the rest of the
season and the seasons to come.
Dario Franchitti: Thanks, guys.
Barry Green: Thank you.
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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