IZOD IndyCar driver, RUBENS BARRICHELLO/No.8 KV Racing Technology Chevrolet, sounds like he’s backpedaling a bit on a previous interview with MARSHALL PRUETT of SPEED when the Brazilian racer expressed his dissatisfaction over his debut IndyCar season with KV. In his latest interview, Friday at Sonoma prior to IndyCar practice, Barrichello attempted to clarify his position
Regarding his future plans for 2013, the former F1 driver said Friday in an interview with DICK SISICH of RaceSonoma.com, “I’d like to keep myself in the Series. When I said before that I’m looking for a more competitive environment, I wasn’t meaning that I was going to leave KV as it looks like.
“I said that I wanted Jimmy and Kevin to make it more competitive. I think the team didn’t do fantastically well, but there’s no reason why they cannot do it next year, so that’s what I meant from it. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful of my racing team because I think this is a bad attitude if that was what I was thinking. But this wasn’t the case.
“I’m looking to keep myself in the series and to do it better next year. That’s a better way to look at it.”
Barrichello was fifth fastest Friday in Sonoma IndyCar practice, turning a 1:19.4015/108.134 mph on his last of 25 laps in the 75-minute session. He was 0.7631 seconds off the pace of WILL POWER/Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, the fastest of 27 drivers in the session. Power ran a lap of 0.18.6887/109.114 mph.
In Pruett’s exclusive interview on 4 August 2012, Barrichello said “In my mind, I have a situation where we have disappointing results, but I keep smiling because I’m on a learning curve. And although I have this Formula One experience; I know people expected more from me—I expected more from me—but I think the team went through some rough results, even though Tony [Kanaan] has done some fantastic races, doing what he does, to overtake everybody and get good finishes.
“He’s been trying to get the team tracking the right way, but I never expected I’d be losing so much time in this car. But then you almost get used to it. It’s funny; I still don’t have a baseline setup I’m happy with, but we’re working very hard to make things happen.
“I’m not here in IndyCar for anything other than the fact that I love what I do,” he said. “I made no money whatsoever this year. Everything went right straight to the car. It was a 20-minute deal [with KV Racing] and I was very lucky that it happened. That shows my level of commitment, but to be running 15th in the series I love…it’s not funny. We need to see what it takes to move forward.
“Is the team moving forward? Is another team moving forward faster? I don’t have this in my mind quite yet; it’s been fantastic learning the ups and downs, the ovals, and all of that, but it’s time to really get our act together and make something happen.
“I’m open for anything,” he remarked. “I think (KV Racing co-owner) Jimmy Vasser is trying to put a deal together—that’s what he’s telling me. But like every time in Formula One, I was always open to talking to people. Yes, you need to talk to everyone before you make a decision, but I would love to have a competitive car. I know I have a learning curve, but I want to get back to winning.
“I’m 40, but my mind is 20 and my body feels 20. I still have some good years left in me. And I’m not talking about wanting a big money deal for me to go here or there. I just want a car that is capable of winning. I’m only talking about the car right now. I need to see if that’s with KV, or if that’s with somebody else.”