San Marino GP: Minardi race notes

THREE OUT OF FOUR IMOLA, ITALY, April 14, 2002

KL Minardi Asiatech today enjoyed a trouble-free San Marino Grand Prix, the Faenza-based team's sole representative in the race, Mark Webber, claiming 11th place after a reliable run to the chequered flag. The 25-year-old Australian has now completed three of the first four Formula One races of his young Grand Prix career, the best result to date being his memorable fifth-place finish in Melbourne in early March. Webber and his engineers elected to make two pit stops at Imola, the first for fuel only, and the second for fuel and tyres.

Both went according to plan and contributed to the driver's steady climb through the field. Webber's team mate, Alex Yoong, did not start today's race, having failed to set a qualifying lap within 107 per cent of the pole position time, as required by FIA regulations. The team now moves to Silverstone, on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, for an important two-day test where Yoong and Webber will be working with their engineers on a number of new technical developments, including a power-steering system.

MARK WEBBER

"It was generally an enjoyable race. We had some fun at the beginning with the Jaguars. They looked like they had a lot of problems with understeer and I was able to get Pedro (de la Rosa). It would have been nice to get Eddie (Irvine) as well, but I thought I'd wait and see how the pit stops panned out between us. As it worked out, we stopped three laps earlier than they did. Overall, though, we learned a lot today, particularly how to use the tyres. Also, letting traffic through frequently and getting off line is part of the job where we are, and although it was a little bit frustrating to have to keep doing that, it was nevertheless useful experience. It was a good race thanks to a reliable car from the guys."

PAUL STODDART

"The KL Minardi Asiatech team today once again proved the reliability of its 2002 car-engine combination: Mark has now taken the chequered flag in three of the first four Formula One races of the 2002 season, and he could easily have claimed another top-10 finish on this demanding circuit. It was obviously pleasing to be able to mix it with the Jaguars, and we will be testing this week at Silverstone in a bid to raise our game a little more and hopefully give a few more teams a run for their money. We had a good race strategy this afternoon, and the guys did a great job with the pit stops, so all told, it was a good effort."

ASIATECH VIEW

"Asiatech is very happy with the exemplary reliability displayed by its engine in today's high-speed San Marino Grand Prix."

Mark Webber: position 11th
fastest lap 1 min 27.914 sec
No. of Laps: 60
Chassis: PS02/04

-minardi-