Fans put up a photograph of India’s first Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan as they waited for the start of the F1 Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, on March 20. (Photo: AFP)

Sepang/New Delhi : India’s Narain Karthikeyan bettered his previous best finish as he ended 11th in the second race of the season at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang on March 20.

Karthikeyan again finished best amongst the rookies, with teammate Tiago Monteiro taking the 12th position.

The Indian driving ace started the race in 17th position and nursed his car home in a race of attrition that saw seven drivers not making it to the checkered flag.

Fernando Alonso of Spain finished in first, ahead of Italian Jarno Trulli in a Toyota in second and German Nick Heidfeld in a Williams-BMW for third.

Meanwhile, Karthikeyan said that he is happy with the start to his debut season in the sport and hopes the good show will continue into the rest of the year.

“I’m just so happy to be back here after two great races. It gives me so much confidence now after completing the physically toughest race in the Formula One calendar and we’re looking forward to the other races,” Karthikeyan, who received a special invitation from the Bahrain royal family to help him prepare for the third round of the world championship on April 3, said at a function organized in New Delhi on March 22.

With track temperatures over 40 degrees Centigrade and cockpit temperatures shooting over 50 degrees, the Sepang circuit is widely regarded as the most physically demanding race in the calendar.

Karthikeyan lost three and a half kilogram during the 192-mile race but coped well with the heat and physical demands of driving there.

“It was thought to be impossible (for an Indian to be part of Formula One) but I made it possible. It is obviously a very tough sport physically and very intense and so far I have coped with it very well,” Karthikeyan said with boyish impishness. He contended his team Jordan’s showing would improve as the season progressed as they expected to get newer aerodynamic parts. Added to this, Karthikeyan has already driven on most European tracks in other racing classes and has better knowledge of the circuits where upcoming races will be held.

“We’ve coped with what we had and have come out better than a lot of experienced drivers in the first two races and we’re looking forward to the season,” he said.

The Coimbatore-based son of a former rally champion hopes to carry his momentum and endeavor to make the line up for the 2006 season.

He said he was proud of compliments paid by his hero and seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, who told him that he “had done a decent job”.

Karthikeyan’s next outing in a Jordan EJ-15 car will be at the Bahrain International Circuit, which he felt was technically similar to the one at Sepang.