A Conversation with Atlantic Driver Danilo Diriani
By Martha Meacham
Photos ©  Champ Car Atlantics
CLEVELAND, Ohio (June 25, 2006) -- I had the pleasure of spending time this weekend with Atlantic rookie, Brazilian Danilo Dirani (#1 Canary Fund/Funcional Card/Sala Design/ Perkons-Condor Motorsports) during the Cleveland Grand Prix weekend at Burke Lakefront Airport. Dirani, a 23-year old driver from Sao Paulo, Brazil is actually a veteran of 14 years of professional racing. He began racing, as an amateur, at the age of six, then graduated to the "professional" ranks three years later......as champion of the Sao Paulo Countryside Championship in 1993 (information, via www.danilodirani.com.br)! Danilo ran in karting events for 11 years, collecting numerous titles, until graduating to the South American Formula 3 series. He won the championship in 2003, then raced in the British Formula 3 series for two seasons, capturing overall 4 wins, 4 poles, 10 podium finishes and finished in the top 10 in points both seasons.

Dirani signed with Condor Motorsports in the Atlantic Series just three months ago and has racked up an impressive record, finishing every race so far, amassing three top 10 finishes, and currently is fifth in the points standings. True, his excellent efforts have been overshadowed by his winning competitors, namely 17-year old, Graham Rahal (son of legendary champion, Bobby Rahal) and current points leader, Andreas Wirth but Dirani's efforts have been very impressive, as are his team's. Working with limited funds and limited resources, the defending Atlantics Champion team Condor Motorsports (which won the 2005 Atlantic championship with current Champ Car rookie Charles Zwolsman), owned by Carlos Bobeda, is a team whose hard work and professionalism should be admired. Danilo graciously took a few minutes out of his busy Saturday schedule (which consisted of a doubleheader at Cleveland of races...and qualifying) to answer some questions. The Atlantics have returned this weekend to utilizing the "standing start" format (similar that to Formula 1) which they abandoned in 1999, in favor of the "rolling starts" (used by Champ Car, the IRL, NASCAR, etc...). Our conversation centered mainly on standing starts, since Danilo is a "veteran" of that genre. His answers reflect his maturity, intelligence, professionalism, and dedication to the sport.

MM: Coming from British and South American Formula 3 where you were used to standing starts, was it difficult adjusting to rolling starts?

DD: It was not that difficult because I did 11 years of karting and karting always had rolling starts. So, it was just a matter of to be concentrated and focused. It was different for me to come back from rolling starts and start to learn standing starts you learn in Formula 3.

MM: Since you're starting mid--pack (12th) for both races, what’s your strategy going into the tricky first turn?

DD: I'm thinking a lot about the start. If I have a good start, get us some positions, then the first corner is just a matter of when you are there and you see what's going on. It's just like Portland. I started from the 15th position and the first corner was completely blocked (in re: the altercation which took out the front row of Graham Rahal and Simon Pagenaud), so I chose the side...the best side and I got into 8th position. But I finally had to wait and see what was the best option.

MM: You took advantage of the Rahal/Pagenaud incident. How were you able to do that?

DD: I was...maybe I was lucky to start further back, you know, from them. Then they had the contact. I don't know how many cars were involved in that accident. For me, I was a little bit further back. I could see the accident and to avoid it.

MM: Which kind of start do you prefer, the rolling start or the standing start?

DD: Um, I guess with standing starts, you more chances to improve your position or lose a lot of positions. So if you are starting maybe further back...like I am, now, almost in the middle of the grid...to have a standing start is bad, because if I do good start, if I jump, I can get some guys. Talking about how to get positions....better the standing start. The rolling is much safer. You get more speed heading down the straight. At this point, it's not safer but I guess it's safer to don't lose positions because you start behind a guy and the guy behind you is going to be there, so it's easier to lose positions ...talking about this, is safer.

MM: Since this is the first standing start for Atlantics in many years, how do you think it will go?

DD: I hope I can have a good start. We have to work on the gears now because we always use the first gear to run on the circuit so now have to use the first gear to do the start and the others gears for the whole circuit. I think it's something new for the team and the mechanics as well. So, let's see how it goes.

MM: So far, how do you think your season is going?

DD: I was expecting more, you know. My position in the championship is very good now, P5, I know I'm not far from the guys in front. I think I'm 20 points to the second and a fifty behind Andreas. But you always want to win and be there, though. It's OK. It's year to learn but that's no excuse, you have to win or it’s difficult to keep growing.

MM: Is it a challenge to have two races in one weekend?

DD: I guess it's better. I'm used to it because in karting and Formula 3 I always did the two races in the weekend. In South America and in England there were always two races. It's better. You're always thinking about the race and having two races, it's more experience. It's better to have two races, in my judgement.

MM: Muito obrigada ("thank you" in Portuguese)

DD: De nada.