German GP: Jordan preview

DHL Jordan Honda approaches the German Grand Prix determined to exploit its technical package, strengthened by an improved specification engine from Honda and recent developments on the EJ12, with the aim of scoring more points in the midfield contest for fourth place in the Constructors' Championship. Giancarlo Fisichella feels well after several days of rest following his high-speed accident during Saturday morning practice at the French Grand Prix and, subject to examination by Professor Sid Watkins, will compete this weekend.

Gary Anderson, Director of Race and Test Engineering, said, "Giancarlo's chassis was sent back to the factory on Saturday night of the French Grand Prix and arrived in Hockenheim on Wednesday morning. Essentially the damage was superficial and only to the bodywork.

"Takuma used Honda's very latest spec engine in qualifying and the race in Magny-Cours and we are pleased with it. It's a good step forward. We will qualify and race with the same specification in Hockenheim, which will be Giancarlo's first opportunity to take advantage of the improvement.

"The track has undergone some modifications, and although the stadium section, pits, and last corner are all the same, it changes when you get to the first corner. The removal of some of the original straights slows it down, and whereas this used to be the first high-speed track of the season, the other one being Monza, now it's more conventional. It looks well done, with a smooth surface and variations such as a couple of fast corners and some good hairpins. It promises to be interesting because it is less about a high-speed blast and more about overtaking."

The 'back-to-back' French and German Grands Prix, just one week apart, require teams to be flexible with logistics. Tim Edwards, Team Manager, explains: "Normally the cars come to the factory after a race and are stripped down on Tuesday. The various parts, for example the gearbox and bodywork, go to their departments for rebuilding and on Thursday bits start coming back to the cars and by Friday they are completely rebuilt.

"In this case the race cars were stripped in France on Sunday night and some parts sent back to the factory. Then the mechanics travelled directly from Magny-Cours to Hockenheim on Monday, with all the equipment, where they set up the garage on Tuesday and spent Wednesday rebuilding the car. Everything the mechanics needed was in Hockenheim by Wednesday so when they arrived that morning it was ready, just as it would have been at the factory. They've had two days to do everything that they would usually do in four."

Eddie Jordan, Chief Executive

"We want to close the gap in the battle for fourth in the Championship and recover from the disappointment of Magny-Cours. Qualifying in the top ten is our hurdle and we have to accept that. Points are hard to grasp from outside the top ten, but if we qualify there, we have a chance."

Giancarlo Fisichella

"I'm very curious to experience the new circuit with its recent modifications and I'm very committed about this race. In Magny-Cours I realised that we have a good technical package with the new Honda engine specification, and I'm really looking forward to trying it out this week."

Takuma Sato

"This is another new circuit for me, but at least much of it is new for everyone else, so for the first time I feel no disadvantage compared to other drivers. I drove round it two weeks ago with my race engineer in a road car, and I feel happy about it. The track is very big, wide and quick and looks really good. As the season progresses, I feel the team has improved with each race and we are really pulling together, so I am confident of a good result at Hockenheim. I am happy that Giancarlo looks fit to race and I look forward to having him back with us this weekend."

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