31/03/2002

Brazilian Grand Prix Race Report

Panasonic Toyota Racing scored another world championship point in the Brazilian Grand Prix after another fine drive from Mika Salo. When Pele one of the world's greatest footballer brought down the chequered flag on the Interlagos race Salo was there in sixth place to maintain the team's 100% finishing record.

Panasonic Toyota Racing scored another world championship point in the Brazilian Grand Prix after another fine drive from Mika Salo. When Pele one of the world's greatest footballer brought down the chequered flag on the Interlagos race Salo was there in sixth place to maintain the team's 100% finishing record.

The delighted Finn said: "We have scored points in two out of three races which is amazing for a new car and team. But it was hard work out there today. It was a long hot race but great to get a reward at the end of it."

Allan McNish again made a tremendous start to the race but once more his luck was out. "I got off the line well when the lights went out and managed to pass a few cars into the first corner from my 16th place on the grid " McNish explained. "I overtook Jacques Villeneuve coming onto the back straight and was right behind Mika. But then he pulled out very quickly about three-quarters of the way down the straight and there was a front wing in the middle of the track which I presume was from Juan Pablo Montoya's car. I hit it head-on which ripped the front wing off my own car and damaged the tyre and the aerodynamic 'barge boards' on the side of the car. I came back to the pits for a new wing and went back out but the car got progressively worse with more and more oversteer especially as the grip of the circuit came up. I came in for my fuel stop went back out and found that the handling deteriorated quite rapidly after that. I locked up the brakes going into Turn 4 spun and that was the end of my race."

The race witnessed a fantastically exciting battle between Michael Schumacher's Ferrari and the BMW-Williams of his brother Ralf. Schumacher Jr was beaten into the first corner by pole position man Juan Pablo Montoya but led out onto the back straight as Montoya slid a little wide. The expected battle between the pair ended when they made contact for the second successive race Montoya losing his front wing at the end of the back straight. As McNish explained that had unfortunate consequences for him but Montoya was able to recover and claim two points for fifth place.

Michael Schumacher then opened up a gap to his brother which Schumacher Jr was able to close after his pit stop. The Williams was less than a second behind the Ferrari as they shot across the line after 71 laps!

Team manager Ange Pasquali explained: "There were no problems at all. It was a one-stop race for Mika and everything went like clockwork. The Michelin tyres were good and consistent and it was a great race."

Keizo Takahashi technical co-ordinator of the engine department added: "We are very happy with Mika's performance. It gave us one more point. Allan has not been very fortunate but we are working to make some technical progress and in Imola we hope to be able to take a further step forward."