Pacific GP winners'press conference

Q Michael, 67 Grand Prix, 18 wins and now 2 world championships you must be absolutely delighted?

MS There is nothing greater than this. It's strange, but at the moment it doesn't come up to me and I can't spray out my emotions. It's probably fallen so much off me that I'm completely down and groggy and I need to have some time to really celebrate this. It's a beautiful feeling, particularly in the way I have done it now, not just taking it easy and taking the points I needed, but actually win the race. The team has done a really special job. It's unbelievable the way they have handled this season and I really have to say that this championship, a great part of it goes comes from the team.

Q What happened at the start of the race because you seemed to go wide?

MS I had a pretty good start, went outside Damon and Damon was obviously quite determined not to let me pass and tried to push me to the outside but, by the way, I think he spoiled his race as well in this moment because 2 Ferraris got past by. I think if we both would have concentrated on our situation rather than something different, it could have been different but, nevertheless I won the race and I'm happy.

Q David you had a good start and built up a large lead but then it appeared you had problems with backmarkers?

DC I certainly don't want to be in the habit of complaining about traffic but it was particularly unkind to me today, especially some cars that were running alone, that weren't in a race, that they could have quite easily allowed me to pass and I spent sometimes 8 laps behind some cars. So that was very disappointing because obviously being given such an opportunity at the start of the race to open up a big gap, I decided to go for 2 stops rather than 3 and I thought that would be enough to win the race but, unfortunately Michael was able to come out after his last stop just a couple of seconds in front of me and then of course on old tyres there was no chance to catch him and that was it.

Q Damon, not the result you wanted. You must be very disappointed?

DH Well, I'm disappointed but I've tried my best to get a better result than I ended up with and that's just the way dice rolled today. I've got next year to think about and there's 2 more races. It would be nice if we can finish the last 2 races with some wins especially for the team because I think it'd be good for the team if we can get a 1-2 in the last 2 races.

Q Michael a quick look forward to the next race?

MS Yeah, I look much forward to this because I'm free now. I can really push and I can fight in a different way. Today it was important to finish the race in whatever situation and get the points. But the last 2 races? It's going to be entertaining I can promise this.

Q Thanks very much.

Later that day, at another press conference...

DH Michael wasn't happy with what I did a couple of times in the race and he's told me that he's unhappy with my driving. I find that extraordinary, completely extraordinary. I mean, the situation is now that you're completely free to do what you like as long as it's not deliberately dangerous and so I drove in that style and he didn't like it.

MS I think it's something between me and Damon and that's why I spoke personally to him, not to the press, because I think it's something we should sort out ourselves.

-- David Goodwin