Helmet swopping for an important weekend

With two of the most important events in the global motor sport calendar taking place this weekend – the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 in America – compatriots and good friends Rubens Barrichello and Tony Kanaan have decided to trade helmet liveries for the weekend.

The Honda Racing F1 Team’s Rubens Barrichello will be wearing Tony Kanaan’s distinctive blue and red striped pattern as he races round the streets of Monaco, whilst Tony will be competing in Sunday’s famous Indy 500 using Rubens’ white, orange and blue design.

The Monaco Grand Prix, which takes place around the tight and twisty streets of Monte Carlo is generally considered the most special race on the F1 calendar. The unique challenges of the armco-lined street circuit mean that the drivers face a tough weekend requiring the utmost concentration at all times. Rubens Barrichello has been on the podium at Monaco four times so far in his career, and with the first free practice sessions getting underway in Monaco today, both Rubens and the Honda Racing F1 Team are hoping for a strong performance this weekend.

The Indy 500, which takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, is the biggest race in American motor sport. Tony Kanaan, the 2004 Indy Racing League Champion, will start this weekend’s Indy 500 from the second row of the grid in fifth position for the Andretti Green Racing team. A Honda driver since 1998, Tony had a run out in the Honda Racing F1 Team’s F1 car at the Jerez test back in September 2005 in recognition of his 2004 IRL Indy Car achievements.

Rubens Barrichello commented; “Tony and I have been racing together since we were kids in karting back in Brazil and have remained very close, despite taking different routes in our careers. Actually, Tony got to drive my Honda F1 car before I joined the team so I was really keen to get his feedback! We’ve been talking about this idea for a while and decided to swap helmets this weekend for a bit of fun and in honour of such a big racing weekend. I really hope my livery brings good luck to Tony on Sunday and I know he’ll be watching out for our result in Monaco.”