MODERATOR: You were a bit worried about your grid position because there had been something spilt, one of the old cars in the drivers’ parade actually boiled over on the grid. Do you feel you lost a little bit of grip off the grid?
ALONSO: I don’t think so. I don’t think so.
MODERATOR: Fernando, the reason I asked that question is what you just said to Peter is it was almost, from the grid positions that made the difference.
FERNANDO ALONSO: Yeah, this time I think it was the key of the race because, as you said, we were extremely close this weekend. I really think I was a little bit quicker in the race because when you follow a car in one-second distance, something like that, means that you are a bit quicker because to follow that close is not easy. So I had, you know, a good car all through the race, maybe with no graining, with no other problems. So, yeah, I think it was close this time, so, you know, whoever is fast in Turn 1 has 90 percent of the race.
MODERATOR: How close was it when you were 200 miles—180 miles an hour side by side?
ALONSO: One or two centimeters probably. (Laughter)
MODERATOR: Is that close enough for you?
ALONSO: It was close, but I think it is difficult to overtake, you know, in this circuit. You only have one chance, Turn 1, and maybe because Lewis had the moment in Turn 9, as he said now, so you have the opportunity to be close enough in the last corner. So I had only one chance, Lap 38, was not possible. So after that, again, you know, you cannot follow any closer than one second or one second and a half. So, just finish the race and get the podium, at least.
MODERATOR: Another time you seemed to make a big detour over toward pit lane. I think that was you.
ALONSO: Yes.
MODERATOR: Reason for that?
ALONSO: No.
MODERATOR: No particular reason, just got bored with the other bit?
ALONSO: Yeah, because I follow so many laps with the car, my overalls, everything was so black because the carbon brakes were coming into me every braking. You know, I think the brakes were hotter, all my car was hotter than normal car. So I tried to pull away from the slipstream sometimes just to cool the car.
MODERATOR: Congratulations, anyway.
Questions from the floor?
Q: Fernando, as you approached the first stop, guess you weren’t quite close enough to make use of your extra lap and you talked about the graining before. Is it more severe this year, this problem of graining when you’re in the wake of another car?
ALONSO: I think similar, but is higher here or seems higher here in Indianapolis than in other circuits. I experienced that on Friday when I was doing the tire test that I did 10 time laps with the primes, 10 times laps with the opposite on Friday. When I did the opposite tire, I follow I think Rosberg or Williams for four or five laps. When I arrived to garage, the tires were in very bad conditions. So seems when you follow a car, the tire degradation is much higher, there’s no doubt.
Q: Fernando, did you expect to find a competitor for the championship in your own team this year?
ALONSO: Yes and no. I think when you’re from the winter tests, Lewis was very quick and was very close times comparing Pedro (de la Rosa) and me. So no big difference between the three drivers of the team. So, you know, why not fighting for victories, podiums and championship?
But on the other hand, I think it has been a surprise for me and a surprise for everybody to see him doing so well and leading the championship at this point. But, you know, I have big confidence. We only did seven races, 10 to go. So I’m very happy with my 48 points, and the championship will be decided at the end. Again, I have confidence that I can do it.
Q: Fernando, the last stop did you stop before the plan or—
ALONSO: I don’t know. I don’t think so. I didn’t know what was the second stop because we were very open to decide when to stop. I think obviously the first stop is clear and is decided yesterday in qualifying when you put the fuel for Q3. The second stop, I think the team decide whatever the race goes in the first 10 or 15 laps. So I think I stopped in the lap they wanted.
Q: Fernando, when you went side by side through the first corner, my impression was Lewis moved to the right and then a little bit back to the left. Was it borderline or where is the borderline in that situation?
ALONSO: I don’t know. I think you need to see on TV on the car, everything feels OK, and we are fighting each other. You don’t see many movements. So on the car, I felt OK. I think on TV will be maybe more easy to see.
HAMILTON: May I just say in the rules you’re only allowed to make one move down the straight, and going into the corner you’re allowed to move back to your position or at least move back again to try and get yourself around the corner.
MODERATOR: The last question.
Q: Fernando, you said that 90 percent of the race is won or lost at the first corner, and by extension that means that the fuel loads and the times you say in Q3 are very important for that. Does the team have a system of allocating who will go for the fastest run in qualifying, and should it be you or decided on a race-by-race basis?
ALONSO: I think Ron Dennis is available now to do interviews. Ron will be available now. So I drive the car, and Ron can probably answer these questions.
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