Nineteen years of Formula One did not prepare Rubens Barrichello for his first taste of driving an Indycar on a high-speed oval.
The former Ferrari driver, who switched categories for the 2012 season after losing his Williams race seat, tested at the Texas Motor Speedway on Monday.
"It was bloody fast," he is quoted by the Associated Press, "and very, very much different than anything I have ever tried. I've had places that in formula one that they say 'Oh, it's almost flat and it's a big corner and it's a big challenge'. But the walls were never so close. "Last night I went to sleep thinking about it. When I woke up I was on the other side of the bed, so I already was ovaling in my dreams."
Barrichello's teammate Tony Kanaan admitted it was "fun" and a rare sight to see his close friend "nervous" prior to getting into a racing car. "It was quite exciting to see how excited he got, and how happy he got out of the car saying how awesome it is."
Barrichello's excitement included some colourful language over his in-car radio which fortunately was not broadcast to the wider world. "I said it was truly awesome, but not in a good manner!" he smiled. "I was very rude on the radio because I was so excited."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
