Australian GP McLaren race notes

2000 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX - RACE
Melbourne, Sunday 12th March 2000

Mika Hakkinen Chassis 01
David Coulthard Chassis 02
T-car Chassis 03

The West McLaren Mercedes team finished the Australian Grand Prix early when David Coulthard retired from second place with a problem with the engine's pneumatic valve system after 11 laps. Mika Hakkinen, who was leading the race from pole position, pulled off the track with a similar problem to his teammate seven laps later.

MIKA HAKKINEN
'Obviously I'm disappointed to leave Australia and the first race of the season without any points, particularly since I didn't score any points here last year either. I was very happy with the car until I was forced to retire with a technical failure. We will identify exactly what caused the problem and work hard to solve it before the next race.'

DAVID COULTHARD
'I made a good start and was feeling comfortable in second place when the engine developed a misfire just after the safety car pulled in. I went into the pits to change the engine mapping but the problem could not be cured and unfortunately that was the end of my Australian Grand Prix.'

RON DENNIS
'This is an understandably disappointing outcome to a race that we were controlling from the front. We can at least be positive about the fact that the failures we experienced in the race are the same as those in practice which means it should not be particularly difficult to find a solution as its in an area where we have never incurred problems before. As is obvious we are quick enough to win. We were conserving fuel because Mika and David were very happy with their cars but as always to finish first -- you first have to finish.'

NORBERT HAUG
'The same problem on the engine's pneumatic valve system, which caused failures yesterday, stopped us today. We have to fix that rapidly in order not only to be quick but to finish races.'