Formula 1: United States Grand Prix

Topics:  United States Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso
June 29, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.
Of course, Juan Pablo, I'm sure they recognize you probably more than your two neighbors there.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: Yeah, I race here before. Here in Indianapolis, I get recognized quite a lot. It's okay. I spend a lot of time in Miami. There's a lot of Latins there, so. But it's okay.
THE MODERATOR: In fact, you won, of course, Indianapolis 2000. But since then, you've just had sort of incidents and all sorts of things have happened to you.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: Yeah, here, we done pretty good in our crash with Ralf here. We had all kinds of things. But it's exciting. It a bit, you know, tricky track. It's quite slow. It has a very long straight. It's an interesting balance in between how much downforce you want for the car in the corners and sacrifice on the straight. I think simulations most of the time show very similar lap time whatever you do.
THE MODERATOR: How are you going to stay out of trouble?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: I don't know. You know, last race, it's a bit of a shame. We had a quick car. I collided with Rosberg. Just one of those racing things that happens. I had a quick car, I needed to make sure before Fernando went into the distance that I moved forward. I was trying to do that.
THE MODERATOR: What about your future? Where do you see your future? People have talked about Williams. People talk about you coming back here to the States.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: I don't know yet. I'm looking at it. When I make a decision, you'll find out. You know, I think the difference between myself and a lot of guys, I don't make my discussions public. You know, I don't talk through the press. I talk through the teams, and that's it.
You know, you guys don't hear anything, but I know what's happening.
THE MODERATOR: Are you happy with what's happening?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: Yeah, yeah, very. You know, I'm very comfortable and we'll see.
THE MODERATOR: Some questions from the floor, please.

Q. Juan Pablo, in Canada you went out early. In that first half, Kimi was very close to Alonso. How competitive do you think McLaren will be here?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: We should be very competitive. My car in race trim was very good in Canada. And it was a bit annoying not to be able to show the pace. I think Kimi had a better qualifying car. I thought I could have a better race car. It was a bit frustrating from that point of view.
You know, that's the way racing goes. And I think here it should be a strong race for us. You know, Kimi was quick last year, but we were quick everywhere last year, so we'll see.
You know, I think the trend is that we're getting better and better and better. It's a matter of trying to get a good qualifying lap.
THE MODERATOR: Kimi said that the car seemed to be slower in the second stint, speed seemed to go away. Why should that be?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: No, I think his balance was quite oversteering from qualifying. He worked harder the tires trying to keep up the pace in the second stint, probably just killed him. I don't know.

...
Q. Tiago and Juan Pablo, you both raced in Champ Cars. Do you think F1 pays enough attention to drivers racing in the US?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: Who in F1?

Q. The teams.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: Don't know if they pay enough attention, but they definitely should. I think there's talent over here, like anywhere else in the world. There's some great drivers in Champ Car, there's some great drivers in IRL. They should have a look, but then again there's also a lot of talent in Europe.
So I think the level of the top guys at the front is obviously for sure very similar, still as good. They should have a look. But, again, we race a lot more in Europe so I think they're a bit more concentrated in drivers around there.
TIAGO MONTEIRO: Same.