Austrian GP Saturday Minardi notes

AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX - Zeltweg, 25th July 1998 QUALIFYING

ESTEBAN TUERO Chassis 05 19th laps 12 time: 1:33,399 "At the beginning of the qualifying session, the track conditions were very bad, therefore we waited half an hour before going out of the box. Anyway, the track was getting better lap after lap, therefore I asked through the radio how many laps I had still to go, because I knew that the last would be the fastest. In fact, I gained my qualifying time on my 9th lap."

SHINJI NAKANO Chassis 04 21nd laps 9 time: 1:34,536 "My engine turned off just 9 minutes before the end of the qualifying hour and I still had not gained my qualifying time. So I jumped out of my car and I ran to the box to take the T-car. I had to do my best in the two laps I had left and I got made it at the very last lap."

GUSTAV BRUNNER - Technical Director: " Today's qualifying were quite difficult, mostly for Nakano. In fact, after a problem with his car, Shinji managed to catch his qualifier on the last lap with the T-car. It was not easy work in such bad track conditions with a car he had just taken. The driver proved his 'saing froid'. Same is true for Esteban, who gained a good result anyway."

TREVOR KNOWLES - (Ford Cosworth) Support engineer: " The failure of Shinji's engine was due to a problem with the drive by wire."