Luxembourg GP Tyrrell race notes

LUXEMBURG GRAND PRIX RACE [27.09.98] EFFORT GOES UNREWARDED

LUXEMBURG, GERMANY, September 27, 1998 -- The final Grand Prix of the 1998 European season was not a satisfying one for Tyrrell, drivers Toranosuke Takagi and Ricardo Rosset both ultimately disappointed with their results. After running as high as 13th, Takagi eventually finished in 16th place, while Rosset's race came to an abrupt end on lap 37 when the engine of his car failed without warning. He was in 19th place at the time. Both drivers were on two-stop strategies for fuel and tyres and, in common with all Goodyear runners in the field, had elected to use Goodyear's softer "Option" tyre.

TORANOSUKE TAKAGI (No 21) Finishing position: 16th Best lap: 1:23.392

"I pushed hard from the start of the race until the very last lap today. I also had brilliant work from my pit crew, particularly on the second stop. Despite all that, I finished last, but that is more the result of bad luck than anything else. As in Hockenheim and Monza, I was able to race with Verstappen and Salo here at the Nurburgring. The lap times were extremely close and the only real differences were tyres, chassis set-up and the points on the circuit where you had to let the faster cars past. Looking on the positive side, though, I learned a lot about this circuit, which is very technical, and we finished the race. The result for me was disappointing, but the team has every reason to be pleased with its performance -- they did everything right. I only hope that with a combination of good mechanical reliability, slick pit work and my knowledge of the Suzuka circuit, I can achieve Tyrrell's best result of the 1998 season at the last Grand Prix. It would be a great way to thank everybody for their efforts this year."

RICARDO ROSSET (No 20) Finishing position: DNF Best lap: 1:24.161 "I made a reasonable start and passed Tuero's Minardi on the run up to the first corner. The tyres were fine at this point, but then, after five laps, the chassis started to pick up more and more understeer. After we fitted a fresh set of tyres at the first pit stop, the balance improved and I was able to lap quicker once I had let the lead group of cars through. After a few more laps, the understeer started to creep back in, but then the engine let go on the pit straight and that was the end of my race."

Chassis numbers:

Rosset 026/01; Takagi 026/05; Spare 026/02