F1 driver Massa participates in Granja Viana 500 practice

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- In the city of Cotia, Sao Paulo, F1 Ferrari driver Felipe Massa took part in the open practice on Monday for the upcoming Granja Viana 500.

The event will be held on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5. Massa took the opportunity to make some minor adjustments on his kart and also to contemplate who he would like to be a part of his team in the event.

"There is no rush. We still have quite a bit of time before the race starts. The track is in bad shape. For this reason, I wanted to get here early and get a good feel of the kart and of the track," said Massa, who considered his return to pilot a Ferrari race car a huge moral victory.

So far, Massa has only added Brazilian pilots Lucas Di Grassi and Popo Bueno as his teammates. Di Grassi, who has the high hope of piloting a Formula 1 car in 2010, was also on hand during Monday's practice.

"My chances of landing a deal with team Manor are good. They have a couple of guys they are looking at for next year, and I am one of them," claimed Di Grassi, who also holds the possibility of piloting for team Renault.

Di Grassi is expected to receive a definitive answer from team Manor next week.

Massa and his team will hope to pull off an underdog victory against this year's favorite team headed by Rubens Barrichello. Barrichello, who is the newest member of team Williams, has won the competition in eight out of twelve races.

Barrichello is on vacation in the United States after leaving his kart in the hands of Renato Russo to make any necessary adjustments for the race.