Barrichello admits he's number two

The Brazilian believes he will not be asked to play second fiddle to team leader Michael Schumacher as Eddie Irvine has over the last three years.

'I am number two driver but its more of a 1B really,' he joked on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix, just a week after he was confirmed as Eddie Irvine's replacement for the year 2000.

'I am definitely number two. I would be snobbish of me to say I want to be number one. I have come to the team much later than Michael. The space is his.

'I have to create my space get to know people and show what I am capable of doing.'

Asked whether he may be forced by team orders to move over for Schumacher he replied, 'I don't know what is in Michael or Eddie's contract. I don't know. I don't care.

'The fact is [if] they give me the same equipment as Michael, nothing less, then it is up to me to do well and if by accident I am in front of Michael I don't think there is any need for team orders to come into play.

'If I am in front it is because I deserve to be, and it is in there best interests of the team to see me winning.'

Having turned down Ferrari twice since arriving in Formula One, Barrichello becomes the first Brazilian to drive for Ferrari full time and, at the third time of asking, said it was getting the biggest break of his career.

'It is the chance of my life to get a win,' he said at Monza. 'With the 1999 Stewart-Ford, the chances were high, but at Ferrari they will be even better.

'Right now it is hard to know whether I going to win the first race or be 10s behind on the grid. I am enthusiastic and anxious to find out.'

Fundamentally, Barrichello says the two-year move is for more private reasons than just raking in the famous Maranello millions.

'This is the chance to measure myself against Michael, who is one of the best, if not the best driver in the world.

'The chance to prove to myself how good I am. That's the challenge.'