Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello met on Friday with the journalists invited by Chevrolet at the Indy 500 to talk about his first experience on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The former Formula 1 driver was clearly not used to see so many race fans, nor to have to participate in so many PR activities on a race weekend. He said he was very impressed by the oval.
"I now have a lot of respect for this place," said Barrichello, a very close friend of countryman and fellow IndyCar racer Tony Kanaan. "I watched the race last year and I said to myself: 'Hey, piece of cake. Four corners, that's easy!
"But reality is far different," he now thinks
"When I drove my first lap here, I immediately thought that the car was pulling to the left. So I came back to the pits and told the guys that there was something wrong. But [there wasn't !] I had to get used to it.
"It's really strange to have to turn the steering to the right to go straight," Barrichello added.
"But it's a great feeling when you get it right around here. You have to be loose and smooth. At a certain moment, you stop fighting the wheel and let the car go. I really look forward to the start of the race on Sunday," the Brazilian said.
The former Formula 1 driver was clearly not used to see so many race fans, nor to have to participate in so many PR activities on a race weekend. He said he was very impressed by the oval.
"I now have a lot of respect for this place," said Barrichello, a very close friend of countryman and fellow IndyCar racer Tony Kanaan. "I watched the race last year and I said to myself: 'Hey, piece of cake. Four corners, that's easy!
"But reality is far different," he now thinks
"When I drove my first lap here, I immediately thought that the car was pulling to the left. So I came back to the pits and told the guys that there was something wrong. But [there wasn't !] I had to get used to it.
"It's really strange to have to turn the steering to the right to go straight," Barrichello added.
"But it's a great feeling when you get it right around here. You have to be loose and smooth. At a certain moment, you stop fighting the wheel and let the car go. I really look forward to the start of the race on Sunday," the Brazilian said.