French GP Prost race notes

Jean Alesi:
"Needless to say, I am terribly disappointed by everything that has happened this weekend and with the result. We have to put this behind us and concentrate on the next race to score a good result."

Nick Heidfeld:
"I made a reasonable start and had a tough, but fair fight with Jean in the first corners. My car under-steered at Estoril and Jean overtook me. So did Fisichella two laps later, even though I was quicker. I tried to out-brake Fisichella in the hairpin, but I was a bit late on the brakes and I touched Jean, who spun, for which I am really sorry. Luckily, the balance of the car was not too badly affected. Then, I was able to catch the cars ahead and keep a good pace. Unfortunately, we had to make a third pit-stop to refill the engine air system. It was a pity because, even though the car was still over-steering a little, the changes we had made on the grid were in the right direction. Overall, it was not too bad, but if we had qualified better, we really could have had a much better result."

Alain Prost:
"When you start so far back, the race is clearly going to be difficult, so when you also have several incidents, including the unfortunate coming-together of Nick and Jean. Nick stalling in his second pit-stop and having to make a supplementary stop, it is not at all easy. Whatever happened, however, we were not competitive this weekend, which is the most frustrating thing of all in regard to our results here in testing last week. We had the satisfaction of seeing both cars finish today's race, but that also is a cause of frustration when you do so but cannot score any points, since on each previous occasion when we have been able to score points, we have not had the reliability."

Corrado Provera:
"Well done Nick for driving a fine race marked by some very respectable lap times - and our apologies for needing him to make an extra pit stop to refuel his pneumatic valve system. Well done Jean for finishing the race in a car which did not give him a chance to show his qualities as a driver."