Formula 1

Championships not the only fight

While all eyes are at the front of the grid focusing on the fight for the titles, there's another important battle going on down the grid, at least for those involved. BAR, Jaguar and Toyota are scrapping for best-of-the-rest behind the top four of ...

Edited: Sep 26, 2003, 2:25 AM

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While all eyes are at the front of the grid focusing on the fight for the titles, there's another important battle going on down the grid, at least for those involved. BAR, Jaguar and Toyota are scrapping for best-of-the-rest behind the top four of Williams, Ferrari, McLaren and Renault. BAR currently leads the midfield with 18 points, Jaguar just one behind and Toyota three behind the Leaping Cat.

Jenson Button.

Photo by LAT Photographic.

Jenson Button is aware of the importance of the place in the Constructors': "This year it's very important for us to be in front of Jaguar and Toyota, because they're our main contenders for the championship this year, fifth position of the championship," said the BAR driver.

"Personally, I would like to be in the top five. I think that is an aim, and I think that we need to be scoring points. Good points, not just picking up the last point. I think we need to be showing that we're capable of breaking very well. We've been a little bit unlucky over the last couple of races, but I think we can actually finish in fifth position or maybe sixth, or whatever. But I think we're looking very strong."

Tony Purnell, CEO of Ford's Premiere Performance Division, thinks Mark Webber is Jaguar's advantage: "Our main challengers at the moment are BAR and they should be formidable around Indianapolis and good in Suzuka," said Purnell. "But we'll give it a college try, if you like, and I think we've got an ace in our pack with Mark."

Toyota may not be on the F1 winners' podium at Indianapolis this weekend but the team has been given a boost by a Toyota-powered one-two finish at the Indy 500 in June. "Our Toyota colleagues threw down the gauntlet by scoring a one-two in the Indy 500 event at the first attempt earlier this year," said team principal Ove Andersson.

"Although we are not yet in a position to fight for victory in Indianapolis this weekend, we should again be looking for a top ten position in qualifying and from there aim for points."

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