MODERATOR: Congratulations to the three podium finishers of the United States Grand Prix. Third for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, Felipe Massa; second for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, Fernando Alonso; and heading the third one-two finish for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes in 2007, Lewis Hamilton. And Lewis, winning your second successive Grand Prix.
LEWIS HAMILTON: What a dream. To come into two circuits that I didn’t know my first time, you know, to really come out with such pace to see the team moving forward always and being competitive, and just to see how much work the team back home in Brixworth and Woking and Stuttgart, how hard they all worked to produce a car and to develop it. They have done a fantastic job, and I am really so thankful to them because it wouldn’t be possible without them. The guys here are a great bunch of guys and did a fantastic job on strategy, setting up the car. It’s a perfect team, and I’m really happy I could put the icing on the cake.
MODERATOR: Very, very close race with your teammate Fernando throughout the race distance. He took the lead at the, start but on Lap 38, Fernando was right there, and there was pressure all the way.
HAMILTON: There was, and especially the middle stint. The first stint, the first couple laps were really close, and I managed to pull a slight gap and maintain that. And going to the middle stint, the first two laps were very good and then my tires started to grain, so maybe I pushed too hard on them immediately and so Fernando was right up my tail. It was extremely difficult. He was in my slipstream the whole time, so he would always catch me down the straights. So whatever I gained midfield, I would lose on the straight. So it was very, very tough but he fought very well, very professional. At the end I managed to pull a gap, and we both sort of, are—I was able to maintain that gap and control the rest of the race.
MODERATOR: As you say, second successive win but a win here in Indianapolis. Talk us through the closing laps. Did it seem like a long, hot day for you?
HAMILTON: It did. Obviously, it was great to see that there’s a big crowd here, and they’re all very, very supportive. A lot of British flags out there, which is fantastic for me. I get a lot of energy from that. But the last few laps, it just seemed to be very long. They came across the radio and said 15 laps, and I was like, ‘Yeah. ’ And the 15 laps just seemed a lifetime, especially when you’re out in the lead, trying to maintain it, not to push too hard and not to damage the car. But I was able to do it and, as I said, just very, very emotional.
MODERATOR: Congratulations to you, Lewis.
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