Australian GP winners' press conference

DC This is fantastic this is actually a better feeling than when I won my first grand prix for Williams. One, because it was a little bit unexpected here after the first race, especially after the qualifying form of the Williams and I guess I've got Eddie to thank for causing a bit of agrivation at the first corner.

Q Going back to the first corner, that provided quite a big advantage for you.

DC That's right. I was alongside Michael and trying to decide what to do before entering the corner and then Eddie came flying down on the inside so I just thought keep out of trouble and it worked to my advantage.

Q Were you surprised later on in the race when you didn't see Heinz-Harold Frentzen coming out in front of you after his second stop?

DC Yeah. I was very surprised because he pulled away a lot at the start. Obviously he was on a two stop strategy so that helped him and I expected that he'd be able to pit and come out still in the lead, but I was leading for the most part of the race and when I saw him come up towards the end I thought that maybe there'd be some trouble but the gap wasn't really coming down that quickly and he had to obviously get by Michael as well.

Q Were you aware that he had gone of the track towards the end of the race?

DC Yeah, was it him at the first corner? One minute he was 2 seconds behind me and then the next minute he was gone and I saw some dust down there so I presumed he went off at the first corner.

Q David, congratulations.

Q Michael, you were on David's tail pretty much for the whole race. Are you pleased to be second today?

MS Yeah, I mean there was no chance to get any better position. I was a bit unpleased obviously when I had to come in again to the pits because it would have meant I lose the second position. Obviously Heinz-Harold went off and I could rejoin in second position. I wasn't hoping for more to be honest the podium was the maximum I was hoping for. We acheived that. Good points, so a good start to the season.

Q When Heinz-Harold came up behind you, did you think he was going to be able to get past?

MS I knew I was quicker than David but I knew I didn't have any chance to pass him so the same was for Heinz-Harold.

Q Did you have any trouble at the start of the race because it was a bit messy there at the first corner?

MS I just took off badly, that was the only trouble I had, which I have to say luckily I took off badly otherwise Eddie would have taken off myself as well.

MH I don't think it could have been much better than this. Of course I would prefer to swap the places with David but for the team it's fantastic. All the hard work that's been going through the test sessions and many years, it's started paying off now. It's just fabulous. I'm just really happy, a little bit emotional also because it's been a tough time many years.

--- David Goodwin