Malaysian GP Jordan race notes

Gastón Mazzacane
“My car was well balanced under a heavy and a lighter fuel load. Since the very beginning, however, I had a problem under braking with the throttle pedal hampering me over the whole race. Luckily I stayed clear of the first incident and after a few laps I got a respectful position. We went for a one stop strategy, which is why I was heavier than Alesi who stopped twice. Unfortunately when I was back onto the track he was ahead of me, even if by a whisker. Later on I twice finished on the grass and I got to get into the pits again to clean the radiators. Temperatures dropped again to a normal level but on lap 51 a piston of the engine broke. I feel disappointed for not finishing as I would have liked, however I am looking forward to the coming season hoping to make some improvements."

Marc Gené
“Obviously I am disappointed for not finishing my race. On lap one I by-passed the incident where both Prost’s and Diniz’s Sauber were involved and, according to our expectations, my car began feeling well balanced toward lap sixth. My lap times proved really good, I was able to hold Ralph (Schumacher) and Mika (Hakkinen) behind me albeit on just a few laps. My car proved competitive until my first pit stop, whereas it suffered from a massive oversteer when I was running on the second set of tyres. I made a couple of mistakes without being able to push as I did before. In the end I had a problem to the rear left wheel and I was forced to stop. Still our objective to finish tenth in the constructors championship has been achieved and, considering the means available with regard to the other Teams, I wish to congratulate my Team for the excellent job done over the season.”

Gian Carlo Minardi:
"It has been a hard-fought race with Marc displaying one of his best performances in a season where our main objective has been definitely achieved. To secure the tenth place in the constructors world championship is a reward that the whole Team deserve after the hard job everybody did over these months. With his F1 apprenticeship being completed today, Gastón is one of the drivers who piled up the higher amount of race mileage. It is sad that he had to bring a premature end to today’s race. Now we must focus to the coming 2001 season and concentrate all our efforts to achieve those objectives that the Team deserve to be as good as the others."