Formula 1

Karthikeyan tired but relieved

Formula One's first Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan was tired, but relieved, after finishing Sunday's Australian Grand Prix in 15th place in his Jordan-Toyota, two laps behind winner Giancarlo Fisichella.

"I feel really very tired now," he said. "It has been a very long day and I am glad now that I have finished a race, my first race, for the first time. I feel quite pleased because I achieved most of what I set out to when I came here.

"The start was bad for me. Actually, I made a terrible start. I was disappointed with that most of all. I had to run behind Monteiro and that was not what I wanted, but it was all I could do.

"Once I had the chance, after the first pit stop, I pushed hard. As hard as I could. And I really enjoyed it too. I didn't feel any pressure on me even if as everyone tells me all the time millions of people in India were following me on the televisions.

"I have lived with that pressure before all the time in my racing career. It is not a new thing for me. I am used to it. After this, I feel a relief. Something I wanted to do is now done so I can look forward with a lot more confidence."

He added that he expected to find the conditions - sweltering heat and high humidity - at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur no more to his liking than they are to anyone else.

"I think it will be very hot, something I will not find easy!" he said. "At least, I can say I have one race behind him now and that is important."