India's Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan said Jordan's new car, EJ15B, would be ready for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, on September 4.
"I have driven the new car. It is better in braking and aerodynamics and it will help us challenge the Sauber and Red Bull teams," he said at an interactive chat show in Mumbai, on Wednesday.
"Braking is the biggest problem in the old car. I am much more aggressive than my team mate [Tiago Monteiro], so for me its a big problem especially during high speed braking. Also, the lack of downforce doesn't help," the 28-year-old said, referring to the problems he has experienced during the season.
He also admitted that he made mistakes in Monaco and Canada, where he failed to complete the race. In both the races he hit the barrier and was forced to retire.
"The season started off very well, but then I went through a bad patch."
Asked why the car is struggling, he replied: "The Midland Group bought the Jordan F1 team very late so they had no time to develop the car. Midland was supposed to buy Jordan in 2006, but it happened this year. It will take some time for the team to produce good results."
Karthikeyan also described his experience of being in a high-speed Formula One car.
"It's really exciting to be in an F1 car. The feeling is really unique. F1 car is very different from anything that I have driven before. It is a dream come true to be in this sport. And driving at speeds of more than 360 kmph gives you a huge rush. There are so many buttons on the steering wheel, which I found difficult initially, but now it comes naturally," he said.
The Indian driver said his first goal was to complete race, after which he set about to score some points.
"The US Grand Prix was not the ideal way to score some points, but still we deserved it because we went out and risked racing at the circuit."
"My aim in future is to score points consistently and try to win races and be the first Indian F1 champion," Karthikeyan said.
He also said that Ferarri's seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher is the best driver in F1 currently.
"Schumacher is the best driver in my opinion," he declared.
Meanwhile, Bollywood actor John Abraham, who was also present at the event, said his mantra for success is education.
"If you have a proper education, then it opens up so many options," he said.
"So many young guys and girls who want to be models come up to me asking for advice on workout and weight. So I just tell them to study first. If you are a dumb model, it always shows," he said.
Abraham admitted that he is a big fan of MotoGP.
"I just can't wait for the day when I get a chance to meet MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi, at the Czech Grand Prix. Since I am the brand ambassador of Yamaha, the team which Rossi drives for, I will get to spend some time with him in the pits," the model-turned-actor said.
Theatre actor and India's rugby player Rahul Bose also took the opportunity to congratulate Karthikeyan.
"I am really proud of what you have done. I don't care about what people said that you finished 15 or 16th, but the fact that you are the first Indian in F1, and a part of the best 20 drivers in the world, is a fantastic achievement," he told the Indian racing ace.
He also stressed on the impact rugby in his life.
"I learnt rugby in school and I loved the sport for its poetry and passion. I made my best friends in rugby. I learnt how to lose and how to give your best.
"The important thing that I learnt in rugby was team spirit. Playing rugby taught me that without the other 14 players, you could die. In cricket you can get away being an individual player, but not in rugby," Bose said.
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