This is my first column for ESPN.com and it falls at a very special time in my career. I just returned from Mexico City where we held a presentation this week in front of 500 people to introduce Fernández Racing in Mexico. We have done presentations in the past, but this was special. To see the response of not just the media but all the people who were in attendance made for a very satisfying moment.

	Adrián Fernández, right, and teammate Shinji Nakano enjoy the festivities.

We started the presentation with a magic show, and the magician was great. He made my driving gloves and helmet appear to move on stage by themselves and then made my race car magically appear through a burst of fireworks and smoke.

I was part of his final act – he disappeared and I reappeared in his place. I did have to rehearse for this one, and now I know how they do some of these tricks. (Sorry, but I'm sworn to secrecy!) Then we brought my partner, Tom Anderson, and my teammate, Shinji Nakano, onstage.

Tom used to be the managing director at Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, and he was the key part for me in making the decision to start Fernández Racing. He's basically the man in charge of the team, while I take care of the business side. We really work well together and I am very excited about our partnership. He's very, very professional and has a lot of experience. Together, I think we can be very productive and we will see good results in the future.

Shinji and I get along great. I don't think he has had the opportunity to prove himself here in America. It's hard when you come to America and go to a team where you don't have a teammate because CART is so competitive.

I think he will be able to learn a lot of things from me and I will be able to also learn from him. We will be able to push each other, and he has already proven that he is very quick. It is one thing to be quick but another to be able to win races and be consistent. I think Shinji is a driver that is going to surprise a lot of people this year.

I have always dreamed of having my own team some day, and now we will be making our debut at something else I have always dreamed of – a race in Mexico. The first race of the year in Monterrey is going to be extremely special for me. We have been trying to do this for a long time. It has finally happened and it's coming at a time when I am at the peak of my career and have just announced the creation of Fernández Racing. It's definitely going to be special.

Of course, this also means extra pressure. It probably would have been better if this race were in the middle of the season for us, but we are working very, very hard so we are ready. There are always a lot of unknowns with the first race for a brand-new team, but we are confident that the talent we have hired is going to compensate for the short time that we have been able to work together.

This week's presentation was the realization of a dream that has grown over the years. It wasn't just about me, but a team of people who over time have made this all possible. Right now I am in the best part of my career and I think the next few years are going to be the most important.

2000 CART runner-up Adrián Fernández, who drives the No. 51 Tecate/Quaker State/Telmex Honda/Reynard car, will provide a weekly diary to ESPN.com throughout the 2001 season.