American racer Sarah Fisher became the first female to climb behind the wheel of a Formula One car since Italy's Giovanna Amati back in 1992, when she took to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday. Putting in three laps of the famous circuit in the spare McLaren MP4-17, Sarah, currently competing in the IRL series, recorded a best time of 1:32.651.
While this was more than 15 seconds off the slowest time recorded by Alex Yoong in the opening practice session of the weekend, her time on track was not done to record fast times, instead it was simply a demonstration run due to her partnership with TAG Heuer. Here she talks about the experience and what her thoughts are on breaking into the pinnacle of Motorsports in the future.
Start off with your overall impressions...
Very exciting opportunity for me. Because of my partnership with Tag Heuer and their partnership with Team McLaren, it gave me the opportunity to feel what an F1 car is like. Any race-car driver in America will tell you that the ultimate is to at least drive these cars for a couple laps and see what it's like.
What was the sensation, the feeling?
A racecar is a race car, always. There's always going to be differences in every car you drive, from a go-kart to a sprint car, midget, Indy car to an F1 car. They're all a bit different. The biggest difference I found between an Indy car and a Formula One car was the acceleration and deceleration forces. The side-load forces of the car I drove today is quite the same as the IRL car. But we have a top force, where we have a lot of downforce going so fast at a constant speed, that maybe equals out the acceleration and deceleration. I don't know, because it's two different forces, but you have to be physically fit for both.
When you accelerate, how much does it throw you back in the seat, the rapid acceleration?
The first time, a lot. The first time was like, 'Whoa, OK. Thank God it's got traction control.' It was great. It was fun. I didn't get to light it up very much. Obviously, I only had three laps to do it, and by the third lap I'm thinking, 'OK, at Turn 4 I can go in a bit deeper there,' and they came on the radio and said, 'OK, park it down on the bricks, you're done.
Would you like to compete in Formula One?
Yes, if it was with the right team and the right people. I'm very big on people. I struggled for two years in the Indy Racing League with people issues. This final year, the past couple races I finally put together a team of people that were outstanding and fit my personality perfectly. My goal this winter was to keep that team together, and it looks like we accomplished that. It's not signed, but it's orally communicated as a promise. In F1, I'm sure it would only be twice as much, that same manner, to have the best people around you and the right people to fit your personality. So yes, if that was the case, I would.
Danny Sullivan announced the Red Bull driver's search, and one of the guys announced was Boston Reid, someone with a background similar to yours. How did it make you feel to see someone from your background get this chance to go to F1?
I think it's great. I know Boston from sprint cars. I ran sprint cars before he did, so I didn't get to race against him, but I know his personality and have talked to him several times. He has a great personality, and he's a pretty decent race-car driver. Every driver needs much to learn before they become world champion, and myself and everyone included, if you get to a point where you say, 'I can't learn anymore,' you fall off your driving talent and ability. We have a lot to learn, and it's great to see another open-wheel driver from sprint cars and midgets get the chance to perform in the big leagues.
Sarah in action
Other than great publicity that you got today, are there any other benefits that can be derived from today for female drivers or any American drivers?
American drivers, yes, because being in the States, F1 is only apparent in one venue. It makes it tough for Americans to follow F1 because in the IRL and NASCAR, we give American citizens the sport first-hand. We present drivers and personalities, and we air it all the time for them at the times they are awake and can watch it. It makes it tough for Americans to follow F1 because it's not apparent in their day-to-day, 9-to-5 lives. By doing this, it gives Americans a better chance to watch F1, to make it a bit more popular for areas that were unaware.
Has anyone said anything negative to you about your - or any woman's - involvement in Formula One?
David Coulthard is a very nice guy, I want to point that out first. This morning when I came in to talk to him, he said, 'Sarah, if nobody has told you about these cars, I'd be happy to do so.' David is a very personable driver, very approachable and very accepting. Nobody has said anything negative to my face, and everything that has been said to me is positive.
Why aren't there more women competing?
There aren't that many girls that start at such a young age. Luckily for me, my father and my mom got me started when I was 5, so I've been racing for 17 years. That's a long time for when you're only 21, turning 22 next week. When you don't have very many girls starting at a young age, they're starting in their late 20s or early 30s or late 30s as Shawna Robinson is, then it's difficult to find talent at a young age, talent that is capable of competing at that level of racing.
Do you see any reason why a woman could not compete in F1?
No, I don't see any reasons why a woman shouldn't be able to compete in Formula One. I don't see any reason why they shouldn't be able to compete in the IRL. Every car is different, but every car is a race car. It has different techniques that you need to be able to modify your driving style for, but it's certainly something that's very possible, and there many women out there who are very good and very fast and could accomplish that.
Would it be more difficult to come from an oval racing background and be able to compete at this level?
Not if I had the right testing. Each lap you get better, and each lap you strive to get a better product and better lap times and better corners.
Niki Lauda mentioned something to you about doing a proper test. Is this something you would do? Come to Europe to do a proper test?
Nobody has asked me. He was the first to ask me. I don't know if he was serious.
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