Portuguese GP Tyrrell Friday notes

September 22, 1995 Portuguese Grand Prix First Qualifying

Ukyo Katayama and Mika Salo set the 14th and the 16th times in today's first qualifying session for the Portuguese Grand Prix. Both drivers set their best time on the last flying lap with their third set of tyres. Ukyo's time was 1 min 24.631 sec and Mika's 1 min 24.942 sec.

Ukyo Katayama: "The balance of the car was slightly better today and I am feeling the fly-by-wire throttle better, but we need better traction. It was strange because if I push hard I lose time, but if I drive gently my times are better!"

Mika Salo: "I would like to thank my mechanics who changed my engine after this morning's practice and got the car ready for the start of qualifying. I am frustrated because I am slow and I don't know where I am losing so much time. I can't find any grip anywhere and the car is sliding all over the place. We must improve the balance of the car."

Harvey Postlethwaite, Managing Director - Engineering: "With the tyres only lasting one lap, it was very important to put a good quick lap together. The track got quicker throughout the session. Ukyo managed to find a better balance than Mika today but we will need to find more speed tomorrow. I am glad that both drivers liked the Tyrrell fly-by-wire throttle."

Takaaki Kimura, Yamaha F1 Project Leader: "Mika complained of a strange noise this morning, possibly from the engine or from the clutch, so to be on the safe side we changed his engine before qualifying. Today we ran the C spec version of the OX10C which we will use tomorrow, when we hope for some improvement in qualifying positions."