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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Barrichello Evaluating His Competitive Options
Rubens reiterated that he’s not throwing in the towel at KV and might re-sign for 2013, but also confirmed he’s started talking with other teams...
Rubens Barrichello wants to win. Now. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
Everything you’ve read about Rubens Barrichello being one of the nicest men on the planet is absolutely true. But even nice guys have their limits.
The 40-year-old’s warm and endearing personality has been one of the highlights of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season, but after a rather disappointing rookie season with KV Racing, the Formula One veteran is finding it hard to maintain his sunny disposition.
Barrichello hasn’t lost his manners, but he is starting to lose his patience with being in an unfamiliar position—one that usually finds him far down the grid, and well behind numerous drivers that should be struggling to keep pace with his No. 8 car.
Blame some of it on his lack of familiarity with the Dallara DW12 Indy car, and that he’s seeing the majority of IndyCar’s tracks for the first time, but Friday’s practice session at Mid-Ohio also highlighted the other part of the equation Barrichello’s been looking to improve.
Despite being the fastest of KV’s three drivers, Barrichello ended the day in 20th, ahead of teammates E.J. Viso and Tony Kanaan in 21st and 22nd, respectively. And with many results like that this year, the 11-time Grand Prix race winner is beginning to question what it will take to become a regular podium visitor.
Speaking with SPEED.com Friday night, Barrichello reiterated that he’s not throwing in the towel at KV, and might choose to re-sign for 2013, but did confirm he’s started exploring his opportunities elsewhere in the paddock.
“To be honest, I never thought the conversations would start right now—so early,” he said. “I haven’t spoken to many people, but like anything else, you need to be open for conversations.”
After starting the year with high expectations as part of Chevrolet’s solid lineup, KV has had punishing season so far, except for the heroic drives put in by Kanaan. Kanaan’s in-race abilities are beyond measure, but the concerning state of competitiveness across KV’s entire fleet has the team and its drivers searching hard and fast for immediate solutions.
“In my mind, I have a situation where we have disappointing results, but I keep smiling because I’m on a learning curve,” Barrichello explained. “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.”
It would be easy to say that he’s just happy to have extended his career a few years by moving to the IndyCar Series, but as one of the more fiery and passionate drivers in the series, Barrichello scoffed at that notion.
“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.”
Along with his talks outside of KV, Barrichello says his current team is working hard to keep him in place.
The 40-year-old’s warm and endearing personality has been one of the highlights of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season, but after a rather disappointing rookie season with KV Racing, the Formula One veteran is finding it hard to maintain his sunny disposition.
Barrichello hasn’t lost his manners, but he is starting to lose his patience with being in an unfamiliar position—one that usually finds him far down the grid, and well behind numerous drivers that should be struggling to keep pace with his No. 8 car.
Blame some of it on his lack of familiarity with the Dallara DW12 Indy car, and that he’s seeing the majority of IndyCar’s tracks for the first time, but Friday’s practice session at Mid-Ohio also highlighted the other part of the equation Barrichello’s been looking to improve.
Despite being the fastest of KV’s three drivers, Barrichello ended the day in 20th, ahead of teammates E.J. Viso and Tony Kanaan in 21st and 22nd, respectively. And with many results like that this year, the 11-time Grand Prix race winner is beginning to question what it will take to become a regular podium visitor.
Speaking with SPEED.com Friday night, Barrichello reiterated that he’s not throwing in the towel at KV, and might choose to re-sign for 2013, but did confirm he’s started exploring his opportunities elsewhere in the paddock.
“To be honest, I never thought the conversations would start right now—so early,” he said. “I haven’t spoken to many people, but like anything else, you need to be open for conversations.”
After starting the year with high expectations as part of Chevrolet’s solid lineup, KV has had punishing season so far, except for the heroic drives put in by Kanaan. Kanaan’s in-race abilities are beyond measure, but the concerning state of competitiveness across KV’s entire fleet has the team and its drivers searching hard and fast for immediate solutions.
“In my mind, I have a situation where we have disappointing results, but I keep smiling because I’m on a learning curve,” Barrichello explained. “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.”
It would be easy to say that he’s just happy to have extended his career a few years by moving to the IndyCar Series, but as one of the more fiery and passionate drivers in the series, Barrichello scoffed at that notion.
“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.”
Along with his talks outside of KV, Barrichello says his current team is working hard to keep him in place.
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