Formula One Rookie Narain Karthikeyan of India talks to the media on the eve of the first practice session of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix Melbourne, on March 3. (Photo: AFP)

MELBOURNE: India’s ace car driver Narain Karthikeyan had a brush with trouble in one of his two practice sessions on March 4, ahead of his historic Formula One debut at the Albert Park circuit here scheduled for March 6.

In theng practice session, the engine of Karthikeyan’s car developed a oil leak. The problem was detected and the driver was immediately evacuated from the vehicle.

Undaunted by the incident, 28-year-old Karthikeyan, and his two other Team Jordan colleagues –– Tiago Monteiro and Robert Doornbos –– participated in a second practice session.

Driver Narain Karthikeyan being evacuated from his car after his Jordan’s engine developed an oil leak during the first practice session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 4. (Photo: AFP)

“I lost a lot of time this morning because of an oil leak, so after that I have been pushing very hard,” said Karthikeyan.

“Now I just need to calm down a bit because I was under pressure to perform,” admitted the 28-year old Chennai-born Karthikeyan.

“Karthikeyan’s track time was cut short in the first session by a small oil leak that was rectified for the second session,” Team Jordan said in a statement.

Karthikeyan’s teammate Monteiro said it was not an easy workout at the highest grade of motor racing. “It was my first contact on the track today. It was not very easy because I have to adapt myself to the bumpy conditions and work more on the set up to feel more comfortable in the car,” said the Portuguese.

“It is the first day of acclimatization, but I am confident we are going to improve tomorrow,” he said.

Jordan sporting director Trevor Carlin seemed satisfied with his team’s progress. “We are generally quite satisfied today with picking which tires we are going to race on this weekend,” said Carlin.

Karthikeyan checks the rear vision mirror during the second practice session of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 4. The Indian rookie was scheduled to compete in his first grand prix race at the Albert Park road circuit in Melbourne on March 6. (Photo: AFP)

“After resolving Narain’s oil leak this morning, everything ran very smoothly. The drivers are just learning the circuit. We are very happy with the progress we have been making,” he said.

Team Jordan, however, knows that it still has a long way to go and hoped to see its cars to the checkered flag on March 6.

“Hopefully, we can be reliable, get both cars to the end of the race, maybe have a bit of luck and finish close to the top 10,” said a realistic Carlin. “That is the best we can hope for.” Karthikeyan and Monteiro landed in Australia on Feb. 28 to get acclimatized to conditions and also spent their time doing promotions for the team.