Relaxed Hakkinen Confident of Indy Win

Finn Mika Hakkinen revealed that he feels better now that he has made public his decision not to race in 2002.

McLaren driver Hakkinen, who landed a 33rd birthday present with top spot in Friday's practice, claimed that he feels much more relaxed now that he has announced he is taking a break from Formula One, and added that he is confident of winning the United States Grand Prix on Sunday.

"I don't know what it is, but I want to win, I feel good, confident, I am a happy person and it all looks good," Hakkinen said after topping the times today. "I am getting on with everyone in the team and everything is right. I feel happy in the car and I am doing a good job and so that is one reason for motivation and I want to win and I still love racing and racing cars and want to do it. It's been great.

"I've been waiting a long time to tell you guys about it (my plans) and it is has been difficult and now I have had the opportunity to do it, I feel relaxed now and not worried about anything anymore. I like this track a lot and last year was good experience."

Hakkinen's time-topping performance was even more remarkable due to the fact that he lost the majority of the first session - he completed just four laps - because of an engine problem which required an entire change of the power unit.

The Finn, who has scored only one win so far in 2001, praised the performance of his McLaren team.

"We did a very good job with the car, good changes and balance and it was really good," he said.

"The day started negatively with a technical problem and I missed one hour, so it is a good job done particularly as the mechanics changed the engine in 35 minutes and that is very great job. To get the right racing line here is easy, but to get the right balance was complicated - but the engineers and mechanics did a very professional job."