ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Brazilian Rubens Barrichello has set his sights on competing in 300 Formula One races after chalking up a record 257th start in Turkey on Sunday.

"I don't know if I will get to 300 and I don't know if I can reach 300, but I will try because a friend of mine used to say that racing was in my blood and I really feel that," the Honda driver told reporters at Istanbul Park.

To do that would require two more seasons, however, and his present team remained non-committal about the 35-year-old's chances of doing it with them.

"Rubens is very aware of the situation and I don't think he would want it any other way," Honda F1 chief executive Nick Fry told Reuters.

"When I hired Rubens, in one conversation I made a mistake and complimented him on his experience. He said "I don't want to be experienced, I want to be fast.'

"Rubens wants to be fast and if he is fast, he'll be here next year. And if he's not fast, he won't. It's as simple as that," Fry added.

"I see no signs of Rubens wanting to retire whatsoever. He wants to carry on as long as he's enjoying it and as long as he's quick enough and at the moment he is."

Fry said contract talks could wait for the time being.

"We haven't had any serious conversations with Rubens, we've discussed things but it's not a priority at the moment. As we get towards the summer and into the autumn, then we'll start talking in earnest.

"Because we've worked together now for two and half years and have extended his contract once, it can be renewed very easily. It's not going to be the subject of prolonged negotiation. Either we will both want to do it or we both won't," he said.

"Once we've both decided one way or the other, it's probably about a three day process."

NO POINTS

Barrichello, winner of nine races with Ferrari, has not scored a point since 2006, with British driver Jenson Button scoring all six for Honda last year and three so far in 2008.

The Brazilian finished 14th at Istanbul Park, with Button 11th despite starting further back. However, Fry said the two drivers were not as far apart as the results suggested.

"In common with most of the teams, we monitor the performance of the drivers on a race-by-race basis in lots of different respects," he said.

"Over the last 18 months, although we haven't got anything like the results we would have liked to have got, he is nip-and-tuck with Jenson.

"After that many years of grand prix racing, to retain your enthusiasm and still be that quick is extremely impressive," said Fry, who also paid tribute to Barrichello's character.

"He's a real person, not someone superficial or who tries to skim over things. You get it from the heart."

Barrichello raced with a car reflecting his achievement as Formula One's most experienced driver, the livery changed to reflect the number 257 -- one race more than Italian Riccardo Patrese's previous record.

"Honestly, it feels like I started yesterday," he said.

(Editing by John O'Brien)