Malaysian GP Saturday Minardi notes

MARC GENE' Chassis 04 19th 12 laps time: 1:43,563 "Well, it was my best qualifying in the whole season, so far. During Yesterday's and Today's free practice I did very few runs due to some problems which prevented us from working thoroughly on the car. Furthermore, I had not learnt the track, yet. I, therefore, started the qualifying session well aware that I missed some laps. However, my feeling with the car has always been very good. We tried different set-ups but I didn't feel them convincing. Then, in the last two runs, we changed again the car's setup and I felt it was going far better. In the end, the last lap turned out very good. I am really satisfied: I should say this was my best qualifying, even better than Hockenheim."

LUCA BADOER Chassis 01 21st 12 laps time: 1:44,321 "I did a very disappointing qualifying session. I've always experienced problems of brake balance in the final part of the track where I did a lot of mistakes. My time was, therefore, high. For tomorrow I expect a very tough competition although the race is usually better for us and it is tomorrow's outcome that counts."

CESARE FIORIO - sporting director: "After the brilliant performance at the Nurburgring where the Team scored the tenth place in the Championship, here in Sepang we'll try to defend this place. In order to do so, we'll try to create the best conditions for our drivers in tomorrow's race."

The T-car (chassis 03) for tomorrow's race is prepared for Marc Gene.