Raikkonen optimistic for Indy success

McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen has said he can take his first victory of the season in Sunday's US Grand Prix.

The Finn was encouraged by the pace of his car in Canada last weekend, after challenging Fernando Alonso before problems at a pit stop.

"At Montreal, we were able to show the step forward we have made with the MP4-21," Raikkonen announce at yesterdays conference, adding "And hopefully this week in America we will be able to challenge for the top step of the podium."

McLaren and Raikkonen have had a disappointing season, failing largely to get on terms with Alonso and Renault, who they fought for the world championship title last year.

Team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya shares Raikkonen's optimism about the race at Indianapolis., saying "After my race in Canada, I cannot wait to get straight back on track this weekend, as the car felt really quick."

Meanwhile at the opposite end of the grid Jenson Button has admitted he has no idea how long it will take his Honda team to end their run of poor form.

The Englishman said after his disapointment in Montreal "I don't know how long it's going to take," adding "We've just got to make the most out of what we've got. I don't know if we'll have the same situation (at Indy)."

Button, who went into the season hoping to win several races, has now failed to score in the last three Grands Prix, this has led to Honda suspending technical director Geoff Willis.

But Button though is determined to be positive saying "Rubens and myself are very pushy and it will make difference - it has to" continuing "I want it to get better, it's not going to move us forward if we are not motivated.

He said the team would analyse the reasons for their poor form in Canada, a race that team boss Nick Fry had predicted last week would see an improvement by Honda.

"We'll look over the reasons for it and hopefully solve some of them for Indy" Button said.

"In Indy we have got to wait and see. Hopefully we can find something which can help us for Indy because we don't have any different parts on the car, he also said it was not an aerodynamic issue, but it was something to resolve as soon as possible because it is costing the team massively.

US Grand Prix, 2 July, 1800 BST