Japanese GP Sauber race notes

Pedro Diniz:
The car was pretty good today, but it’s so hard to overtake anyone here. If I had started where I should have on the grid it would have been a good race. As it was I had another tough day and then lost the chance to stay ahead of Mika and Zonta during second pit stop.

Mika Salo:
I wish we had been able to qualify better here, because it’s so tough to overtake at Suzuka. I made a good start and passed four cars in the opening laps, but the car lacked straightline speed today and as I was slow on the straight there was very little that I could do to make up further places.

Peter Sauber:
To start in 19th and 20th places is very tough, especially on a track such as Suzuka, and of course it was not representative of our true potential. But our customary excellent strategy and pit work, allied to strong drives by both Mika and Pedro, enabled us to move from the penultimate row of the grid to the respectability of the top 10.