Japanese GP Tyrrell notes

Japanese Grand Prix - Race Report October 29, 1995

Mika Salo in the Points Again

Mika Salo drove a superb race in today's Japanese Grand Prix and finished 6th, scoring one more point for the Nokia Tyrrell Yamaha team. It was a very difficult race in tricky weather conditions, but Mika did not put a wheel wrong.

Ukyo Katayama was less fortunate in his home Grand Prix. After badly damaging his left thumb in the warm-up, he found driving difficult and lost his car on lap 12.

Mika Salo: "We went for a wet set-up for the race and it dried out quite quickly so I was slow on the straight, because we carried too much wing, but quick in the corners. That's why b...y Inoue held me up for 15 laps when he was 2 seconds a lap slower, trying really hard to block me until he went into the pits. Panis passed me because of Inoue and I thought he was going to take Panis off as well! When it started to rain at the back of the circuit, I saw Hill going off on the big screen and I thought 'Good, next lap there will be more cars out'. And the next lap it was Coulthard! It was very slippery only in this corner, it was quite funny! At the end it was close with Mark Blundell and I was flat out for 10 laps."

Ukyo Katayama: "I am very upset not to finish my home Grand Prix. During the warm-up I badly damaged the ligaments of my left thumb on the steering wheel in the Degner curve. I saw my physiotherapist but I was very handicapped and I couldn't use my left thumb at all. I couldn't use the left down shift button and it was difficult to concentrate. Finally I lost the car. It's a shame because the weather was very tricky on a circuit I know well and I could have scored a point."

Harvey Postlethwaite, Managing Director - Engineering: "It's a tremendous result for the team after a difficult season to score a point in Yamaha's home Grand Prix. Mika drove a superb race despite being badly held up by several back markers which he could not pass as he was carrying a lot of wing on wet settings. But he drove a perfect race and did not make any mistakes in the wet. It was Mika's race and we did not do very much! The track conditions were very difficult from beginning to end. Very well done Mika!"

"Ukyo badly damaged his thumb in the warm-up and was very courageous to drive in the race. We are obviously disappointed he was unable to finish his home Grand Prix."

Takaaki Kimura, Yamaha F1 Project Leader: "We are very happy to have scored another point, especially as it is our home Grand Prix! Mika drove a really super race and we congratulate him on that. It's a pity for Ukyo that his race ended early but his injury might have affected his concentration. We had no engine problems throughout the weekend, which is very encouraging for the last GP, but we must try and find a little more speed."