European GP Prost race notes

JARNO TRULLI : 2nd "I am truly very happy. It is my best result in Formula One and I am overall very happy for the whole team. Everyone has worked fantastically well. At the start, I had a bit of a clutch problem and I got away pretty slowly. At the first corner, I avoided the accident, but lost some places at the same time and collected some debris on my helmet and one of my hands. When it started to rain, the pits called me to come in and change to rain tyres, but I looked at the sky and saw it was clearing and the track was still dry. I preferred to continue the race.

After my first pit stop, I went out again on slicks but eight laps later it rained harder. I came in for rain tyres and enough fuel to reach the end of the race and then I was the fastest at that time on the track. I went for slicks at my last stop and afterwards was prudent. It was then that Barrichello, faster than me, caught me. Knowing the circuit well, I knew where to take a dry line and, a few laps from the end, I had no intention of letting him take my second place."

OLIVIER PANIS : 9th "I am disappointed. The victory was in my hand. But this opportunity unfortunately disappeared after my first stop. The first pitstop was in effect a risk, but in the circumstances, it was easy to see 30 seconds later which was a good or a bad choice. The weather conditions after that were very changeable and there was nothing else I could do. I congratulate the team on taking second place with Jarno."

ALAIN PROST "Jarno drove his race very well. I knew he was going to wait for Barrichello and would stay in front as he did. Olivier made a logical and more comfortable decision in choosing to stop as soon as it began to rain to take rain tyres. It was the kind of race he likes, he was very fast and I am truly disappointed for him. A big ‘well done’ to all the team. Our two cars both finished, we have shown that we are reliable and we made no mistakes despite the difficult circumstances for everyone. Today’s race rewards our efforts and all the work done. At a time when we are building our new car, a result like this is truly very motivating."

CORRADO PROVERA "This second place is truly the result of the work done by the whole team. Great progress has been made to make the chassis even more competitive and at the same time that we introduced a new evolution of the engine which gave the drivers a chance to improve their grid positions. The strategies chosen for this Grand Prix with so much incident were exemplary. This first podium will be the first of many."