My (short) talk with Mike Conway

I just talked to Mike Conway at a PR stop he was doing for Perry Ellis:

BP in Louisville: Hello Mike, you've raced Formula Renault, British Formula 3, GP2 and now the Indycar Series. What are the biggest differences in how the Indycar series differentiates itself to you as a driver from the others.

Mike Conway: The Indycar series events seem to be a bigger show, with the military flyovers and things.. and it seems that the crowds are really pumped up. Also it is so much easier for the fans to get close and meet drivers in the Indycar Series. In Europe you need special passes and it isn't as accessible.

BP in Louisville: What do you think of the aero package changes and the "power to pass" changes for Kentucky and the rest of the season? Do you think they will have a signifigant impact?

Mike Conway: (on power to pass) I don't think it's going to be that huge of a deal, although it could help out if you were running a conservitive fuel strategy and just using it... when you need it. The way it's set up on the lowest fuel mapping setting you will get 5 extra horsepower and 20 extra on the highest fuel setting. You can use it 20 times for 12 seconds. We'll see what happens...

BP in Louisville: Thanks for talking to me Mike, I'd better move so others can talk to you. Good luck in the race.

Mike Conway: Thank you.

Later Mike was interviewed by a local radio sports show host and he told that when he was a boy he really wanted to race motorcycles, but his mother said it was too dangerous and "it's four wheels or nothing" so he started in go-karts.

He was also asked who his racing idols were and he responded: Schumacher and Senna

Mike then moved outside where they had a 2005 Dreyer and Reinbold car (with a stick shifter) done up in a Perry Ellis paint scheme where he took pictures with fans and signed autographs. Overall he seemed to be a nice guy, whatever your opinion of him on track.

BP in Louisville