Barrichello happy with performance

Having completed two days of testing in Silverstone last week, Rubens Barrichello arrived in Miami, Florida on Monday, to spend some time in the sun, before heading for the next round of the World Championship in Canada. The Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro man came away from the circuit which hosts the British Grand Prix in July in a positive frame of mind.

"Our last test in Silverstone was very useful," said the Brazilian. "Testing is a bit like Friday at a grand prix, in that you don't know what the others doing in terms of using new tyres and fuel loads, so the times don't mean that much, but it was nice to be quickest all the same. I felt the car was working fantastically well. In the same way that we now spend a lot of time running at Fiorano and Mugello, earlier in my career I always seemed to be testing at Silverstone, so it was good to be back."

"I met a lot of racing people I knew from when I lived in England, but to be honest, they allow so many spectators in the paddock, it was hard to move around! The only difficult factor was the weather. It would rain, then the sun came out with a lot of wind and then the track would dry quickly which meant we were either running in changeable conditions or waiting for a dry track."

After enduring the odd English weather, Rubens is now enjoying some guaranteed sunshine. "I'm spending a couple of days in Miami, adjusting to the time difference," he explained. "I have quite a few friends over here, because this city is a sort of base for a lot of the Brazilian drivers racing in the States. With the very hot weather and these guys around me, it's just like being home in Brazil."

On Wednesday, Barrichello arrives in Montreal to tackle the eighth race of the season and he is looking forward to it. "My first ever second place finish came here in Canada back in 1995 and it is a track I really love and enjoy driving," he said. "Apart from the circuit, I also like the city and the atmosphere over the whole weekend is just great and the race fans are very enthusiastic."

Last year, his Canadian race ended early when he had to take avoiding action when Montoya had his own accident in front of him. "It is a problem when you have nowhere to go, as the barriers are quite close to the edge of the track in Montreal," admitted Barrichello. However, his performances so far this season, give the Ferrari man cause for optimism.

"In every race this season I have done something which has made me feel good about my performance, whether it was taking pole in the first race in Australia or setting the fastest race lap in the last one in Monaco," he maintained. "I feel as though I am knocking on the big door and I am coming to Canada in a very motivated mood."

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