German GP Saturday Minardi notes

GERMAN GRAND PRIX - Hockenheim, 1st August 1998 QUALIFYING

ESTEBAN TUERO Chassis 05 and 03 (T-car) 21st laps 12 time: 1:47,265 "I made my qualifying time with the T-car, that I had to take because the engine of my car literally blew-up after 5 laps. I went quickly back to the box and I stepped into the T-car, which was anyway ready for me and set up just like my race car. On my third run, then, I had a flat tyre and on the following one, with last tyre set, I gained my best time."

SHINJI NAKANO Chassis 04 20th laps 12 time: 1:46,713 "No doubt, my car improved from this morning free practice, and in qualifying I did not have any particular problem with oversteer or understeer. Anyway, it is very difficult to reach high speed here, mostly on the straight lines, where we are still slow and loose time."

GIAN CARLO MINARDI - " If we consider the times we scored last year on this circuit, we see that today we were closer to our past performances probably much more than many other teams - which means that, in relation, we have gained something, which is anyway still not enough to get a better place on the starting grid. It is a pity that Esteban could not run too much - yesterday because of the gearbox and today because of a spin first and of the engine failure after. He could have got closer to his team mate, who scored his best time in the tow of another car, which underlines where is our 'soft spot'."

TREVOR KNOWLES - (Ford Cosworth) Support engineer: " The failure of Tuero's engine looks like it was due to a problem either with the pistons or the valves (which is anyway different from the problem we had with Nakano's engine in Magny-Cours - regarding the bearing - that now seems to be under control). Unfortunately, the nature of this high speed circuit, i.e. over 60 seconds of full throttle, took its toll on Esteban's engine."