HELIO CASTRONEVES Future's on Captain's hand?. - Photo by: K. Ma/NYAR

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (September 28, 2002) - Being a two-time back-to-back Indy 500 winner in his own right, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is just like home for IRL star Helio Castroneves, who just finished a F-1 test with the Toyota team at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France two weeks ago. With the United States Grand Prix taking place this weekend, Castroneves hung around at the paddock area as a guest of Toyota, and talked to friends such as Mercedes motorsports honcho Norbert Haug and grand prix legend Jackie Stewart. Over the weekend, an American source suggested that Jaguar's interest on Castroneves, but the British outfit quickly denied the rumor as Minardi's Mark Webber and Williams test driver Antonio Pizzonia are hot for the seat. Regardless, Castroneves enjoyed his team during the United States Grand Prix weekend and spoke to me candidly about his F-1 test with Toyota.

KEVIN MA: Helio, how was the Toyota F-1 test last week at Paul Ricard?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Great man. I was impressed and everything went well. I'll be honest with you, the IRL taught me a lot about the feel of the car. In the F-1 test, turning right and left, the car was really accurate. I could feel what the car was doing, and I guess because in the IRL, when you change the shock absorbers or other components you do have the feel it, so I was very happy about the Toyota test.

KM: You rode the CART car, IRL car and the F-1 car in quite a short period. Can you compare those cars and what do you learn from driving them?

HC: The CART car, I was impressed with the power and they taught me a lot especially on the slow turns with the slick tires, and to read how to apply the throttle. IRL was very good to me in terms of able to translate what the car was doing from the engineers, as well as accuracy while running on the track; and the F-1 car it is all about the speed in turns and technology. Combine those experiences all together, the whole what I've been through, every category taught me a little bit, and it is very aggressive in Formula One in these days [driving technique], not so finesse what they used to.

KM: I know you are going to say you are going to stay with the IRL next season. However, if you have a chance to move to Formula One in the near future, will you do that?

HC: If there is a good opportunity. But having a good opportunity in Formula One is very difficult, so I just have to wait and see. I am very happy with Team Penske and Roger is a great guy … and … hmm … actually he is the one to decide [if he is going to F-1 while he is under contract].

KM: Recently a lot of teams asked drivers racing in America to have a test - you have Cristiano da Matta, Dario Franchitti, Bryan Herta and yesterday your IRL competitor got a chance to drive around in the McLaren. Tell me why the teams all of the sudden show their interest on drivers racing here?

HC: I guess they know the quality of the drivers, they know we have good drivers, and it's not because we just turn left [in the IRL] that we don't know how to drive. You still able to translate to the engineers how to set up a car, and it's not only sitting your butt there and go pedal to the metal. You do have to have certain experience to fit the car for you. I guess they will be watching those races it just not only them to have the real drivers.

KM: Among the cars you've driven - F-1, IRL, CART, IROC cars, which one would you rather drive?