Rookie Narain Karthikeyan of India waves to fans during the drivers’ parade before the start of the Australi-an Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, on Feb. 6. (Photo: AFP)

MELBOURNE (Reuters) : Narain Karthikeyan achieved a lifetime’s ambition in Australia on March 6 as the first Indian to compete in Formula One. Now he has another target.

“I’ve just got to do a good job and stay on in Formula One for as long as I can,” he told Reuters after bringing his Jordan home in 15th place. “My dream was to compete in Formula One. I’ve done that and now it is to score points.”

[Apart from finishing 15th, Karthikeyan won the rookie race to end on top amongst the newcomers at the Australian Grand Prix here, Indo-Asian News Service reported.

Qualifying 12th on the grid of 20 drivers, Karthikeyan had a dismal start and fell to 18th in the first lap as he was swamped by the other back runners. He recovered after the first pit stop on the 19th lap and then put together a strong drive.

He pitted again on the 39th lap and had a fastest lap on the 36th, rocketing the Jordan EJ-15 around the Albert Park circuit in 1:27:970 seconds. Karthikeyan eventually finished two laps behind winner Giancarlo Fisichella of Italy in the 187-mile race.]

Karthikeyan’s debut was never going to trouble the likes of Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher, even if the Indian suspects he may now be more popular in his home country than the seven-times world champion.

While starting well ahead of Schumacher, he lost six places at the start and did not pass another car on the track. “I was excited. It was a bit like the Macau grand prix,” he said. “That was the biggest race I’ve done with all the hoopla going on. But when you start the race it’s like any other race ––- you just concentrate and do the best you can.

“I made a bad start unfortunately and got stuck behind (Portuguese team mate Tiago) Monteiro but after the second stint I think we did a good job.”

A chanting crowd of supporters, their faces pressed against the wire mesh fence in a desperate attempt to attract his attention, were happy anyway and kept their hero busy long after the race with endless autograph requests.

“Obviously, I really have a lot of supporters. I’m really happy and proud. Now I’ve learnt what it is to finish a grand prix,” said Karthikeyan.

“I didn’t expect so many supporters, there were maybe five or six hundred of them.

“It’s great to have Indians behind me and so on but I just did my job today, got the car to the finish,” said the driver, limping from a sore foot after the unfamiliar strain of left foot braking over a race distance.

“The seat was a little bit bad and my shoulders are hurting as well but I am so happy to finish,” he said. “I had one hairy moment coming in to the pits but I think the second stint was very strong,” he added. “I think we will improve race by race and finish as many as possible. When there is a possibility to score points we must be there to take it.”

The next race is Malaysia and Karthikeyan can expect an even noisier reception from what could be an army of supporters. “Malaysia is probably my home grand prix because it’s only two hours from India and there are going to be a lot of supporters,” he smiled. “I’m just so thrilled that they are also following racing in a big way in India now.”

Team owner Alex Shnaider was also happy.

“He’s a quick driver, it’s his first grand prix so he can only improve from here,” he said. “And also you see how popular he is. I am very pleased.”

From Racing School In France To Formula One

* In 1992, Karthikeyan, son of former Indian rally champion G. R. Karthikeyan, was sent to the ELF Winfield Racing School in France, which includes Alain Prost amongst its former pupils. * A couple of years later, Narain became the first Indian to win the Formula Asia championship. * In 1994, he contested Formula Ford Zetec and moved on to Formula Ford the following year. He made history by winning the British Formula Ford Winter series. * In 1997, the 20-year-old headed to the U.K. to contest the British Formula Opel Championship. * In 1998, he stepped up to Formula Three. His best results were third positions at Spa Francorchamps and Silverstone. * He remained in British F3 in 1999, finishing sixth in the championship. * In 2001, Narain tested for both Jaguar and Jordan, in separate tests at Silverstone. Jordan was so impressed that it invited the Indian back for a second run at Mugello. * In addition to his F1 tests, Narain also contested the Formula Nippon Championship. * In 2003, following a test with Minardi, Narain was offered a race seat, but was unable to provide the required funding. * In 2004, he contested the Nissan World Series, and won two rounds. * With a number of blue-chip Indian corporations lining up behind Karthikeyan, the twenty-eight-year-old, he finally made it to the big league.