Barrichello: HANS Not a Problem this Time

Brazilian Grand Prix pole position-winner Rubens Barrichello said he is confident his performance in Sunday's race will not be hampered by his new Head and Neck Safety device.

Barrichello had been suffering problems with the HANS device, made mandatory in Formula One this year, and was allowed to race without it in Malaysia after he crashed out of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in the early laps.

But he is now using a new design and believes, after completing the practice and qualifying sessions at Interlagos without feeling any pain, he will be able to see out a full race distance.

"I'm happy with the system now and it shouldn't be a problem," said Barrichello, who is now using a two-belt system developed by McLaren-Mercedes rival David Coulthard. "I don't know how accurate we have in terms of having the same system (as Coulthard) but I am fairly comfortable now and I do not think it will affect me in the race."

Barrichello is aiming to be the first Brazilian to win the event since Ayrton Senna claimed victory in 1993.