CBS SportsLine
Chat Transcript
June 19, 1997

Legendary race driver Emerson Fittipaldi stopped by to chat with CBS SportsLine fans on June 19, 1997.

Find out what Emmo had to say in the full transcript of his chat below.

ChatHost: Thank you all for joining us today for our live chat with the legendary Emerson Fittipaldi. Special thanks to Mr. Fittipaldi! He's taking questions now.

Question: What is your most memorable racing experience?

Emmo: My most memorable experience is hard to say, but winning the Indy 500 in 1989 was quite a great experience along with my first Formula One World Championship. I remember going to see the Indy as a young boy and walking in the first time in 1984 and seeing all the people and seeing the millions of people was a memorable experience.

Question: Who has been the toughest opponent you've raced against in your career?

Emmo: There's been many fine drivers over the years. It's tough to just pick one.

Question: Besides racing, what are some of your other interests?

Emmo: I have many various businesses that I manage. I spend time traveling between Miami and my San Paolo office. I also try to spend as much time with my family and children.

Question: On your background, what helped you to become a great racer?

Emmo: Dedication equals results and I've been dedicated to my sport for many years. And, when you lose dedication then that's when you have to walk away from it.

Question: Are you a consultant to Team Penske like Rick Mears?

Emmo: No, not at the present. I still have a strong relationship with Team Penske and hope to make an announcement by the end of the year.

Question: What's left for you to accomplish in your racing career?

Emmo: There's always more for anyone to achieve in their lifetime and I haven't thought about exactly what I need to accomplish. But, I'm very content in what I've accomplished to this point.

Question: What's it like to drive at speeds over 200 MPH?

Emmo: It's one of the greatest sensations that I've ever experienced in my life!

Question: Was the race this year in Rio as big a success as last years and are you trying to get more Indy races in South America?

Emmo: Yes, this year's race was a little more successful than last year and we look forward to continuing it's success in the future. The group in Argentina is trying to create a race in Buenas Aires, but I don't know the status of that yet.

ChatHost: From Marty: "Emmo, it's nice to meet you! I just want to thank you for being here today."

Emmo: Marty: I appreciate all the thanks that I'm getting from the fans. I'm very humbled by the response and overwhelmed by all of you out there. You have my commitment to improve my site and please continue to support it. And, I welcome suggestions from fans on how to improve the site.

Question: What is the status of Christian Fittipaldi?

Emmo: As of now, Christian tested last week and posted very strong times. We're looking forward to a strong race this weekend at Portland. Christian was on his way to perhaps his best season. If it wasn't for his unfortunate accident that sidelined him this season, I feel he would have been a contender for the championship this season.

Question: How did Disney select you as one of the athletes for the Hercules parade?

Emmo: That was to honor athletes who have achieved greatness from around the world and I am honored that I was asked to represent my country.

Question: Emmo, do you know about any plans of getting Indy racing to Europe?

Emmo: There's a group that trying to build an oval track in Germany and bring a race there. But, I don't know the status of that either.

Question: How important is the pit stop in a driver's overall performance on the racetrack?

Emmo: A good pit stop can help a driver gain a few seconds on the competition, but at the same time can cause a driver to fall back a few positions. So the pit crew needs to be just as skilled as the driver.

Question: When you left Patrick racing, you took Marlboro with you to Team Penske, who controls the sponsor - drivers or owners?

Emmo: Each situation is unique. Marlboro decided to change teams and I was fortunate enough for them to ask me to join them.

Question: Who do you think will win the CART championship?

Emmo: Paul Tracy and Team Penske have done a marvelous job of dominating the first half of the season. Of course I'd like to see Roger win another championship, but if Paul continues driving like he has the first half of the season, he definitely deserves it!

Question: Besides Christian, are there any other racing Fittipaldis out there ready to conquer open wheel racing?

Emmo: My daughter Joanna started racing go-carts two months ago and perhaps might compete next year.

Question: Which one was the best race victory of your life and why?

Emmo: The Indy 500 in 1989, because I had always wanted to race there since I was a little boy.

Question: Have you heard the rumor about Gerhard Berger coming to CART racing? And how do you think he would do in this series?

Emmo: There are always rumors about drivers switching series. He's very skilled and of course he'd be competitive amongst the CART drivers.

Question: Do you think that the popularity of go-cart racing in South America is the reason that we see so many talented South American drivers?

Emmo: Go-carting is a great arena to learn the skills needed to win in open road racing. If there's more opportunities to try, there will be more drivers capable of entering the series.

Question: What do you think of Gustavo Kuerten?

Emmo: I think it's fantastic that a Brazilian has made a name for himself in another sport in another country just like Pele, Senna, Ronaldo, and myself before to show that Brazil is a country of great people.

Question: Has anyone from the IRL asked about you joining their organization?

Emmo: I get offers to drive in many different series on a regular basis. And right now, I can't do anything until my doctors give me the approval to competitively race again. I'm still recovering from my accident last year in Michigan.

Emmo: As a matter of fact, tomorrow will be my first time back in a Indy car since my accident last year. I will be driving a 96 Penske Mercedes at the Goodwood Festival of Speed outside of London. This will be a demonstration only. The Goodwood is a historic race car gathering hosted by Earl of March.

Emmo: For me it's with great emotion that with after a whole year that I return to driving an Indy car. Especially in England where I began my career as an International race car driver. This will be the first time I'll be driving there since the Grand Prix of 1980.

Emmo: I'm extremely excited to once again feel the emotions that come with racing and also in the company of great champions.

Emmo: I would like to thank you all who participated today and I hope you all root for me in the exhibition drive Saturday and Sunday. I appreciate all the support that everyone has given to my web site and I look forward to your continued support and I promise to have special surprises on a regular basis on my web site at www.emmo.com.

ChatHost: From Jay: "Emmo, thank you for being here today! I hope to see you soon racing again... You have always been one of my heroes and you have always been an inspiration for me in my own, very limited, racing career.