03/03/2002

Mika makes his point in Australian GP

Panasonic Toyota Racing has scored a point in its debut Grand Prix! The dramatic race began with a multiple accident at the first corner that eliminated Allan with broken left front suspension. Unfortunately for him the race was not restarted and his debut did not last long.

"That's motor racing " Allan said. "I didn't see what triggered the accident but basically it was up at the front and had effects further back. There were people spinning in every direction. I saw Olivier Panis spin and I went across the grass to avoid everything but as I came back on another car came in from the left and broke the front left suspension."

Mika was also involved in the incident and had to call into the pits but took full advantage of the car’s reliability to rejoin and drive a solid race into sixth place to claim a championship point in Panasonic Toyota Racing's first Grand Prix. Mika did have to survive a heart-stopping moment in the closing stages as he spun trying to take fifth place from Australian debutant Mark Webber. He kept the engine alive restarted and crossed the line to the delight of the whole team.

“We had a great race today. I was hit on the first lap and we had to change the track rod at the rear but the car felt quick and reliable after that. I am very happy for the team they have worked really well this weekend. I have had championship points before but this point is probably the most important.”

In a dramatic race Ralf Schumacher escaped unhurt from the spectacular accident with Rubens Barrichello as the pair battled for position at the first corner.

As well as the BMW Williams and Ferrari Giancarlo Fisichella's Jordan-Honda the Sauber-Petronas cars of Felipe Massa and Nick Heidfeld Jenson Button's Renault Olivier Panis's BAR-Honda and Allan's TF102 were all casualties of the first corner. Both Arrows-Cosworth had stalled on the grid so the field was reduced to half size as the Safety Car joined ahead of the leaders.

As the race resumed David Coulthard ran straight on and handed the lead to Jarno Trulli's Renault before the Italian spun into the barrier on the exit of Turn 1. Juan Pablo Montoya took full advantage to pass Michael Schumacher at the same time but was not able to keep the world champion's Ferrari behind for long.

Schumacher then controlled the race and finished 18.6s in front of Juan-Pablo Montoya's BMW Williams and Finn Kimi Raikkonen having his debut race for McLaren-Mercedes. Eddie Irvine's Jaguar Mark Webber's Minardi-Asiatech and Mika's TF102 completed the point-scorers as only eight cars made it to the chequered flag.