Helio Castroneves Hard Quotations

We're not here to make a statement. It's good the results are showing up at the track. The last few years we've been working extremely hard. Toyota worked hard with us, and unfortunately, Honda was always at the top of the game. Right now things are more balanced, so we are very happy those two years paid off.

It was very weird. There were some wet spots. I put rain tires, dry tires, rain tires. I kept on going back and forth. It was very hard to find balance. Toward the end I felt comfortable.

I'm definitely optimistic about our competitiveness in 2006. I think if this team works hard all year, we'll be in good shape for the championship. There are so many good drivers in this series, it won't be easy, but that is what makes winning all the better.

It's hard to lose a colleague, a person who is doing the same job you're doing.

It's hard to lose a colleague, a person who is doing the same job you're doing. But we're all here, and all the drivers know the risk and the danger of the sport. We are here because we love what we do.

I feel better because you basically have to drive the car. At some of the other tracks, you're just along for the ride. I guess, especially at the short ovals, we've been working extremely hard and our best chance of seeing victory and running really, really fast is at those tracks. I'm very happy to see both cars sitting on the front row.