The Hindu : Sport : Narain ready for Monaco challenge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Sport

Sport

Narain ready for Monaco challenge

Rayan Rozario

Coimbatore: After a tough time out in the Spanish Grand Prix, Narain Karthikeyan hopes to do better in the Monaco GP in Monte Carlo scheduled for this Sunday.

The 28-year-old Indian has never raced in Monte Carlo before. However, this will not be his first street race.

He has had good results in Macau driving in F3. "I cannot wait to drive in Monaco as normally I go well on street circuits. I was fast at Macau when racing in F3," said Narain.

He said the race would be hard for the Bridgestone tyres and more so for the gearbox. "Qualifying will also be crucial as there is really no room for overtaking, but I am ready for the challenge," he said.

Unpredictability

Team Jordan felt the unpredictability of the circuit was a characteristic that suited the team well and could offer the hope of a better result even though this is one track where overtaking is virtually impossible.

Both Tiago Monteiro and Robert Doornbos, unlike Narain, have had a feel of the circuit driving there in F3000 in the past. "It's very exciting and special for any racing driver to go to Monaco, but it's a dangerous circuit as well. The preparation is very important — not only has the car to be well set-up but also the way you prepare yourself mentally," said Tiago.

He said, that more than anything else the driver needed to have everything before taking the seat. "A single little mistake in the car can lead to serious consequences, therefore you need to be concentrating cent per cent all the time. I think this is a race where we can be good and with a bit of luck we can possibly score a point."

Tiago also keen

Tiago is also keen on maintaining his good work in Barcelona. "I have always loved driving on street circuits. When I was in a Champ Car, eight out of 19 races were on street tracks and I did get on well. So we will see in Monaco in a F1car."

Straight after the Spanish GP, the drivers followed a programme, both physical and mental, prepared by the team's physical therapist Gerard Gray.

"Each race presents a particular challenge to our drivers, particularly being rookies in F1. Two thousand and plus gear changes around a circuit that offers little room for error or run-off ensures Monaco is probably the most challenging race in the GP calendar. They have to be exceptionally focussed for the 78-lap race, more so than any other," said Gerard.

Intense training

"This focus is developed through particular strategies pursued in and away from the gymnasium environment.

"At this time, both Narain and Tiago are entering into an intense training period preparing for the North American races and then of course the two double-headers in July. It's this intensity that develops a strong mental attitude in conjunction with physical fitness," Gerard added.

"Arriving into the team so near to the start of the season meant that what they were missing physically had to be compensated with appropriate mental practises. So far... it's moving forward positively," concluded Gerard.

Jordan's Sporting Director, Trevor Carlin affirming Gerard's views said, "they have performed very well in the past in street circuits in junior formulas.

"Therefore I expect my team to do better than on traditional tracks and with the fantastic reliability from Toyota, we hope to be around at the finish and maybe get some points."

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