NEW YORK, NY (March 19, 2002) - Emerson Fittipaldi is no stranger to the auto racing world. As a driver he won F-1 championship in 1972 and 1974, IndyCar championship in 1989 along with two Indianapolis 500 victories, the Brazilian retired from active racing in 1996. While concentrating on his other business interests, Fittipaldi also has a significant role in Laureus Foundation as one of the academy members. During the Laureus nomination event at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan, NYAutoRacing.com talked to the legendary racers about the Laureus Awards, his nephew Christian and the current state of motor racing.
KM: Emerson, what are you doing in these days? Do you come to America often or you spend more time in Brazil?
EF: I based in Brazil, Sao Paulo, but I come very often to the states, and I travel all over the world. I am very pleased to be one of the founder members of the academy. It's a great project.
KM: How does the recognition from Laureus Foundation help promoting motor racing?
EF: I can call it [Laureus Award] the Oscars of sports because that's our goal. It's our third year and it is quite well known over the world, and I am sure ten or fifteen years from now it is going to be very successful and popular. Sports is a way of entertainment, to people who are in different backgrounds, and for people who dedicated their lives to achieve the best in sports.
KM: Michael Schumacher [World Sportsman of the Year nomination], Juan Pablo Montoya [World Newcomer of the Year nomination] and the Ferrari Formula One Team [World Team of the Year nomination] represent motor racing in this year's awards, are you happy to see these world-class drivers and team to be on the ballots?
EF: I am very happy because motor racing is very important outside the states, very big all over the world.
KM: The CART series hasn't been in Brazil since the cancellation of the Rio race last year, are you participating in any deals to get the series back to your homeland?
EF: Yes. I think with new president Chris Pook of CART, he is very active and strong. For seven years my business manager works with him. He is going to bring CART back to where is used to be - with all the groups showing interests, good sponsors, new venues, he is going to give more international exposures to the series.
KM: What do you think of the CART series last year compare to his year? Obviously CART had a lot of problems in 2001.
EF: I think it is going to go into a new dimension this year, with new races in Mexico, Denver and Montreal. You see how international it is getting nowadays? It is going to get even more international in the future, and it is going to be the most competitive open-wheel racing in the world.
KM: Your nephew Christian Fittipaldi is racing in CART, but he also tried stock car [Busch Grand National] last year and he is going to do more races this year. Do you watch him racing there and what do you think of him taking the opportunity to race in stock car?
EF: Christian always had a dream one day to try NASCAR and he has the opportunity now. He raced once last year and he is going to race seven times this year [sixth after Innovative Motorsports announced today that he has a conflict with Newman-Haas due to the last-minute testing session arose]. Since he arrived in America he always asked, "Uncle, I want to try stock car! It is going to be great to have a formula driver drive a stock car in the future." I think it will make the category more international. NASCAR doesn't really race outside the states, but having racing drivers from different parts of the world will make it more international.
KM: One of the biggest changes this year is your former boss Roger Penske moving his operation from CART to the IRL. What are your opinions on that and do you think his move will lead to the CART-IRL reunion, at least for the Indy 500?
EF: I was really disappointed in CART to let Roger Penske go. He wants to invest in American racing industry. We lost a good team [in CART] but we still have many other good teams. The new rules from CART that Chris Pook made will allow the teams to run in Indianapolis like it used to be many years ago [two series, one Indianapolis 500]. We will have two championships - the IRL in American, and an international series in CART. CART will likely to go to China also that will make the series even more international.
KM: Helio Castroneves won last year's Indy 500? How important to have a countryman winning the classic?
EF: I was very happy. He did a beautiful job and I am really proud to have so many Brazilian drivers racing worldwide - in Europe, Asia, South America, all over the world.
KM: Aside from Castroneves, there are many young Brazilian drivers all over the world. What do you think of Formula One rookie Felipe Massa at Sauber?
EF: There are many young talents in Brazil. There is a lot of hope in Felipe Massa. It is very difficult to judge him in his first year, but by the end of the end we are going to have a better position how he does in Formula One. He is very talented and I hope he is going to have a good car and a good team to show his talent. Felipe Massa is very good.
KM: Emerson, do you missing racing or do you enjoy life without really being in the racecar at over 200 mph?
EF: I missed racing a lot. I raced a good part in all my life but I don't need really driving myself, but I need to be involved in racing. I go to see grand prix every year, and I watch every race on TV for sure. I probably go to three or four CART races and three or four Formula One races.
KM: Would you do anything like what Nelson Piquet did few years ago, to race in Formula Three for leisure?
EF: No. No. I think motor racing is very difficult for you to go back to and do it properly because it is a very high-risk sport. To race Formula three is very high risk and I am not going to take a chance. Thank god I am not doing it!
