Belgian GP Saturday Prost Notes

Jarno TRULLI " The aim of this morning's free practice session was to find the best possible balance between a good efficiency in the big corners and a good top speed. In qualifying ; we have tested two different set-ups which gave us the chance to do good section times, but never in the same run.

I thank all my team for the work they have done this morning ; this allowed me to go out for 25 minutes in the second part of the free session, after a problem with the accelerator command which left me stranded out on the track."

Olivier PANIS " This morning, I was satisfied with the car. Unfortunately, I had an engine problem. The team did a fantastic job to enable me to go out again before the end of the session. With such a 'penalty', it is difficult to make up the lost time. In qualifying, my first run went well and afterwards we tried a different set-up which took us in the right direction, except in the third sector where the car was too nervous. With less downforce, something which seemed to help Jarno, I was going to make a run, but was stopped by the red flag.

I went out again with the same set of tyres and did a good lap, but without improving. On my coming in lap I saw my car was smoking so I did my fourth run in the spare car which was set up for Jarno. I wasn't able to do anything more. As usual, the race will be long and we must go all the way to the finish."

Alan JENKINS " Today's result was no reward to the mechanics and engineers today for all the work they have done and it is a little disappointing. In free practice, both of our cars had problems. Olivier stopped before the end of the first part of the session with a broken engine and Jarno had to abandon his car at the side of the track because of a hydraulics problem. The technical team reacted quickly and in an assured way, giving the drivers a chance to go out again before the end of the free practice.

The qualifying session was disturbed by the two interruptions caused by the accidents involving the BAR drivers. We start from 12th and 17th places, we should have been better placed, but technical problems intervened."