Q & A with Karun Chandhok

AUTOSPORT talked to the Team Lotus driver ahead of his outing in Friday practice.

Q. You've said before that you almost couldn't believe that India has a grand prix. Now that you are here and all of the teams are here, set up and ready to go, is it a good feeling?

Karun Chandhok: It's certainly a bit more believable! When I cycled the track yesterday, I had an hour away from my phone and emails and TV cameras and newspapers so it was nice to just soak it all up. It was just Bruno Senna and me. We cycled around talking about what line you would take here, what would you do there. It feels a bit more real now.

Q. The track is all ready, but there are a few rough edges. Was there any time when you feared that it wouldn't be ready in time?

KC: No. I wasn't worried about the track at all. There were a few times when the facilities in terms of the paddock were a bit delayed but full credit to the Jaypee Group guys. We're here, it is a bit rough around the edges but everything that matters is ready. The garages are ready, the track is ready, race control is ready. Whatever else happens, the action on track will not stop. So full credit to them, they got their priorities right.

Q. So when we come back next year all of those rough edges will be smoothed out?

KC: This is now a working circuit. There will be driver days, there will be an academy setup, there are already 16 manufacturer days booked in the next year. There will be national racing events happening, so this will be a fully functioning circuit. It's not going to be a white elephant.

Q. You're only driving in Friday morning practice. What can you achieve in that session - do you want to be first out of the pits?

KC: I don't care so much about being first out of the pit-lane although it might be a nice story. But once the session starts, it's the same as being in Suzuka or Korea or Silverstone. You just have to get on with the programme, do the best job that you can.

Q. Is it going to be harder once you've got out of the car after morning practice because you wont' be on the grid for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix?

KC: It's bit like Santa Claus has given me a present in the morning but I have to give it back in the morning. Everyone knows how I feel, but the professional thing to do is to be a team player, keep smiling and do the best job that I can with the opportunities that I'm given.

Q. You've talked about wanting to be involved with this team in the long-term. What's your future?

KC: We'll see. I need to sit down with Tony Fernandes and discuss it and that's something that we need to do away from the track. We'll discuss it. I'd like to still work with him because I believe that he is committed to building up Asian talent and Asian drivers. We'll see what the future holds.

Q. Are you surprised with the amount of coverage there has been in the Indian media about you not being in the car?

KC: I think a lot of people underestimated how passionate the Indian media are about sportsmen. The media love to see their sportsmen doing well. So many people in the paddock have come up to me and said that they can't believe how much coverage I have had. That shows that the power that Indian sportsmen can have and the respect that we have from the national media and the fans. People underestimated how much seeing Indian sportsmen doing well means to this country. Because of that, I'm not surprised about the amount of coverage, but I am hugely appreciative of it. I had 2200 Tweets in five hours after the announcement! It's fantastic and I really appreciate.

Q. Is that a positive sign for F1 in India? It proves there is interest here to build on?

KC: If you speak to the Indian media, they are knowledgeable. The fans are as well. They read what's written and have a decent knowledge and are very passionate about it. The Indian Grand Prix has been an eye-opener for people. I've always been very conscious about the fact that I am an ambassador for motorsport in India and I need to go out there and promote the sport and share my knowledge and enthusiasm.