Japanese GP Tyrrell Friday notes

JAPANESE GRAND PRIX [30.10.98] FIRST OF THE LAST

SUZUKA, JAPAN, October 30, 1998 - Tyrrell made a good start today during preparations for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, the last-ever Formula One race for the famous British-based team. Initially, both drivers reported the surface of the Suzuka circuit to be dirty and lacking in grip, but as the track cleaned up, times began to fall steadily. After slight chassis adjustments were made early in the afternoon session and a fresh set of tyres fitted, Takagi recorded a highly encouraging lap of 1 min 42.833 secs, for the 12th fastest time of the day. Teammate, Ricardo Rosset, concentrated on a re-familiarising himself with the Suzuka circuit, in the process setting a best lap of 1:45.054.

TORANOSUKE TAKAGI (No 21) Position: 12th Best lap: 1:42.833 "This morning was a nightmare. Even though I am more familiar with this track than any of the other 15 circuits on which I have raced this year, we were struggling this morning. This is partly the result of a lack of testing, but also the fact we were using a Goodyear tyre completely new to us. It proved difficult to adapt to the conditions initially today, but we made some changes to the chassis set-up between sessions and the balance was much better. I'm still not entirely happy, but we are ahead of Prost and Arrows, both of whom have been testing recently. In any event, there is definitely more to come from the car and I am therefore hopeful we will be able to make further improvements tomorrow."

RICARDO ROSSET (No 20) Position: 21st Best lap: 1:45.054 "I am quite happy with the work we did today. We reduced the understeer that was there initially and also made some other small improvements. It is two years since I raced here at Suzuka and it is a very difficult circuit. I jut need a little more time on the track to reacquaint myself with it and then we should be okay."

DR HARVEY POSTLETHWAITE, Managing Director, Tyrrell "Since the last race, Goodyear has developed a new rear tyre construction and a revised front tyre mounting, neither of which we have been able to test. This certainly caused us problems during the first session, but the engineers and drivers made rapid progress on improving the chassis balance and reaped the advantages. The car is still not right, but Tora knows the track well and with more work tomorrow, I am confident that we can qualify well."