Junqueira and Minassian Q&A

It's good to come in with such a good team, such a competitive team. And that will help me a lot in the first year. The first year is going to be a learning year. I don't know about ovals, I don't know the other circuits either. I think with a good team like Ganassi, they can teach me and show me how to go.

What I really like about the Target team is that they love a challenge. I mean, they change things, and then work to make them happen. They have had 'rookie' winners in Zanardi and Montoya for a few years, so they must teach well. To be with them is a big honour for me, I'm very proud.

Yes. I enjoyed the car a lot. There was a lot of power, really fast on the straights. The biggest thing is the power, and how fast it comes in, when the turbo comes in you have big power. I thought that after the test went very well, and that I could have a good opportunity.

It was amazing. The car is such a good car. The handling is brilliant; you can slide it and it's not 'surprising' - there are no surprises, no sudden snapping - and you can control it very well. And it's still a proper race car, you still have a gear lever, three pedals and it's lots of hard work. If you don't make mistakes, it's great. And I think the ambience in the championship is very nice as well.

This is the first time I've been to an oval in my life. It looks really, really fast! But I have to go in a car to really feel what it's like.

Yes, I think that we will be very busy! But that's part of the progression. I think I was starting to be bored now with F3000. You race, sprint all the time, now there are strategies, pit-stops, lots of things. And that's interesting.

Yes... Pit-stops, race strategy.... In F3000 - even in Formula 1 - it is flat out from start to finish, drive as fast as you can. But here in CART it's not like that. You have to think about it. That's what I like, to learn something different. And the racing is great. Those are the big things, and I'm very excited about that.

I'm very excited. I've been looking for a drive like this for ages. I've been fighting like a mastif for the last couple of years! And now I've got what I wanted. And I wanted it more than anything. TheCART racing is the sort of racing I like. I love fighting in a race. It will be very good I think.

I'm a racing fan, and I love racing, but I don't have a hero, and I'm not looking at drivers thinking about their past. I do this just for myself, and take pleasure myself. For sure it is going to be impressive, because a guy like Andretti has been there, and he's one of the best out there. But there are lots of drivers there who are very good as well.

I think it's big news. There has been Olivier Grouillard who was in CART I think, but not in a competitive car, and it didn't happen well for him. So for me it's good, I couldn't dream it better! I have had good support there this year. England has treated me well. I feel very much 'English' in racing, more than I feel French. I have lived in England for five years, and driving with British teams. I'm sure the French are going to love it, to have a French driver in the series. It's such a good series, that I'm sure it's going to be good.

We were very much in competition last year, but we have a lot of respect for each other, and that's a good point. I don't know him very well, but what I do know about him is that he's a good man, and I'm sure we're going to get on OK. But still he is someone I'm going to fight against as well -- he cannot be my best friend as well as that!

We get on well, so it should be good together.