The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Narain silences his critics

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 02, 2005

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Sport - Racing : Motor

Narain silences his critics

LONDON: Narain Karthikeyan is getting more and more attention with his exploits on the Formula One circuit, forcing pundits to eat their words that the first Indian F-1 driver clinched a deal with Jordan Grand Prix only due to commercial reasons.

Jordan Sporting Director Trevor Carlin, who sgot the flak for backing the Indian rookie, now has no doubts about Karthikeyan's F-1 future.

``Before the season began I thought he'd be so committed that he was bound to have one or two 'offs', but he has been superb at finding the limit without going over it,'' Carlin said about Narain extracting every ounce of the Jordan EJ15 car.

The EJ15 is considered a difficult car to drive, with a one-year deal with Toyota, but it has a great engine and Narain is trying to get the maximum out of it.

"Karthikeyan is doing a good impression of a driver who is going to be around for a lot longer.

`Hugely impressive'

From the first practice in Australia, where he consistently lapped within a second of the best efforts of Ralf Schumacher, Mark Webber and Jacques Villeneuve, the 28-year-old has been hugely impressive,'' said a report in Sunday Times.

``It may not be immediately obvious from last week's result in Imola.

"In temperatures in which the team's Bridgestone tyres finally found a consistent level of performance over a race distance Karthikeyan could only finish 14th.

``Look closer, however, and his fastest lap was quicker than any managed by Webber, Schumacher and David Coulthard, and within a few thousandths of a second of Jarno Trulli,'' it said.

Karthikeyan also floored his employers by the way he has improved his fitness to take the rigours of the demanding job.

``He's fast and committed, fearless around high-speed corners, and he's worked very, very hard on improving his fitness, which was an area where some people reckoned he might struggle,'' Carlin said. — PTI

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