--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was already on pole, then by half a…" description: "\"I was already on pole, then by half a second and then one second and I just kept going. Suddenly I was nearly two seconds faster than anybody else, inc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/ayrton-senna-9587_car_i-was-already-on-pole-then-by-half-a-sec_1194466.jpg" --- # I was already on pole, then by half a second and then one… ![“I was already on pole, then by half a second and then one second and I just kept going. Suddenly I was nearly two seconds faster than anybody else, including my team mate with the same car.” quote by Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/ayrton-senna-9587_car_i-was-already-on-pole-then-by-half-a-sec_1194466.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/ayrton-senna-9587_car_i-was-already-on-pole-then-by-half-a-sec_1194466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/ayrton-senna-9587_car_i-was-already-on-pole-then-by-half-a-sec_1194466.jpg) > “I was already on pole, then by half a second and then one second and I just kept going. Suddenly I was nearly two seconds faster than anybody else, including my team mate with the same car.” [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A driver can gain a surprising advantage by maintaining momentum and confidence, even when initially behind. **In simple terms:** Momentum can turn a small lead into a big win. Key Takeaway Keep pushing, trust your pace. Themes sports competition confidence Mood determined excited Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - racing - team strategy - personal development Key Concepts momentum psychology performance Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain confidence when trailing? - What small actions can create a larger advantage? A Different Perspective Success may depend on brief moments of sustained effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Faster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faster/) [Faster Anybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faster-anybody-2384971/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Half Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-second-727759/) [Including](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/including/) [Nearly Seconds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nearly-seconds-3556451/) [Seconds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seconds/) [Seconds Faster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seconds-faster-1905450/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [I can write better than anybody who can write faster, and I can write faster than anybody who can write better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-liebling/i-can-write-better-than-anybody-who-can-write-faster-and-i-can-write/) [A. J. Liebling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-liebling/) > [“Emil was aiming for 29:15 – just over six seconds faster than his existing record – but in the second half of the race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-askwith/emil-was-aiming-for-29-15-just-over-six-seconds-faster-than-his/) [Richard Askwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-askwith/) > [... and because it was a drunken perception, it was perfect, entire, and lasted about half a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/and-because-it-was-a-drunken-perception-it-was-perfect-entire-and/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“I want to sleep for half a second, a second, a minute, a century, but I want everyone to know that I'm still alive...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-garc-a-lorca/i-want-to-sleep-for-half-a-second-a-second-a-minute-a-century-but-i/) [Federico García Lorca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-garc-a-lorca/) > [“You were half a second away from saying we’re the villains in our story!” May”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-riley/you-were-half-a-second-away-from-saying-we-re-the-villains-in-our/) [James Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-riley/) > [“There's kind of exuberant clarity in that pulsing half second before winning and losing are decided.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/there-s-kind-of-exuberant-clarity-in-that-pulsing-half-second-before/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [In the Premier League a little half a second can punish you and you just have to be focused for all 90 or 95…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-yedlin/in-the-premier-league-a-little-half-a-second-can-punish-you-and-you/) [DeAndre Yedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-yedlin/) > [I'm not a fan of these very cutty, handheld-y kind of films or TV shows, where a cut is just every half second or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/i-m-not-a-fan-of-these-very-cutty-handheld-y-kind-of-films-or-tv/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [The average TV commercial of sixty seconds has one hundred and twenty half-second clips in it, or one-third of a second. We bombard people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-average-tv-commercial-of-sixty-seconds-has-one-hundred-and-twenty/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Midfielders, on average, get somewhere between half a second and a second to think before they have to move the ball on. For strikers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-van-persie/midfielders-on-average-get-somewhere-between-half-a-second-and-a/) [Robin Van Persie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-van-persie/) > [You have half a second to make your mind up to know if you're going to shoot, pass, drive. Don't hold the ball too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jahlil-okafor/you-have-half-a-second-to-make-your-mind-up-to-know-if-you-re-going/) [Jahlil Okafor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jahlil-okafor/) > [When you deal with something like compassion for physical pain, which we know is very, very old in evolution - we can find evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/when-you-deal-with-something-like-compassion-for-physical-pain-which/) [Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/) > [I like to compare the two to a quarterback and a lineman. Being a brakeman is very physical and success is mostly determined by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elana-meyers/i-like-to-compare-the-two-to-a-quarterback-and-a-lineman-being-a/) [Elana Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elana-meyers/) > [Breakaway goals are fun. When you score a quick one in front of the net, it just happens, but during a breakaway, there's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-crosby/breakaway-goals-are-fun-when-you-score-a-quick-one-in-front-of-the/) [Sidney Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-crosby/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) ## More by Ayrton Senna > [Then suddenly something just kicked me. I kind of woke up and realised that I was in a different atmosphere than you normally are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/then-suddenly-something-just-kicked-me-i-kind-of-woke-up-and-realised/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [The past is just data. I only see the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/the-past-is-just-data-i-only-see-the-future/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [“I have no idols. I respect hard work, dedication and competence”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/i-have-no-idols-i-respect-hard-work-dedication-and-competence/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [And suddenly I realised that I was no longer driving the car consciously. I was driving it by a kind of instinct, only I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/and-suddenly-i-realised-that-i-was-no-longer-driving-the-car/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [The main thing is to be yourself. Many times its through a mistake that you learn. And the main thing is to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/the-main-thing-is-to-be-yourself-many-times-its-through-a-mistake/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [Wealthy men can't live in an island that is encircled by poverty. We all breathe the same air. We must give a chance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/wealthy-men-can-t-live-in-an-island-that-is-encircled-by-poverty-we/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [It was like I was in a tunnel. Not only the tunnel under the hotel but the whole circuit was a tunnel. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/it-was-like-i-was-in-a-tunnel-not-only-the-tunnel-under-the-hotel-but/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [When a man holds you round the throat, I don't think he has come to apologise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/when-a-man-holds-you-round-the-throat-i-don-t-think-he-has-come-to/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [I believe that we start to see our true personalities when we go through the most difficult moments. This is when we get stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/i-believe-that-we-start-to-see-our-true-personalities-when-we-go/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [By being a racing driver means you are racing with other people. And if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/by-being-a-racing-driver-means-you-are-racing-with-other-people-and/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [Racing, competing, it's in my blood. It's part of me, it's part of my life; I have been doing it all my life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/racing-competing-it-s-in-my-blood-it-s-part-of-me-it-s-part-of-my/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [Nothing can separate me from the love of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/nothing-can-separate-me-from-the-love-of-god/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [“On a given day, a given circumstance, you think you have a limit. And you then go for this limit and you touch this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/on-a-given-day-a-given-circumstance-you-think-you-have-a-limit-and/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [It's important that the drivers stay together, because in difficult moments we have each other. If we are not together the financial and political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/it-s-important-that-the-drivers-stay-together-because-in-difficult/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) > [Just because I believe in God, just because I have faith in God, it doesn't mean that I'm immune. It doesn't mean that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/just-because-i-believe-in-god-just-because-i-have-faith-in-god-it/) [Ayrton Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) [Explore all 71 Ayrton Senna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/) ## More Car quotes > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. I don't think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-don-t-own-a-yacht-or-a-flashy-car-i-ve-always-had-safe-cars-because/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) > [The things that don't happen to us that we'll never know didn't happen to us. The nonstories. The extra minute to find the briefcase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/the-things-that-don-t-happen-to-us-that-we-ll-never-know-didn-t/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [I don't have to have the biggest house or the biggest car or the longest mink, but quality of life is really glamorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-don-t-have-to-have-the-biggest-house-or-the-biggest-car-or-the/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 6,849 Car quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was already on pole, then by half a second and then one second and I just kept going. Suddenly I was nearly two seconds faster than anybody else, including my team mate with the same car.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ayrton Senna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/i-was-already-on-pole-then-by-half-a-second-and-then-one-second-and-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Car" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/i-was-already-on-pole-then-by-half-a-second-and-then-one-second-and-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/ayrton-senna-9587_car_i-was-already-on-pole-then-by-half-a-sec_1194466.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/ayrton-senna-9587_car_i-was-already-on-pole-then-by-half-a-sec_1194466.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/ayrton-senna-9587_car_i-was-already-on-pole-then-by-half-a-sec_1194466.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was already on pole, then by half a second and then one second and I just kept going. Suddenly I was…” — Ayrton Senna", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ayrton Senna", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayrton-senna/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was already on pole, then...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/i-was-already-on-pole-then-by-half-a-second-and-then-one-second-and-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayrton-senna/i-was-already-on-pole-then-by-half-a-second-and-then-one-second-and-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```