Jaguars make it to the finish

Eddie Irvine was seventh - exactly where he started - but insisted a clutch problem at the start cost him a finish in the points.

Team-mate Johnny Herbert jumped from 17th to 10th at the flag after battling with Giancarlo Fisichella's Benetton.

But after the troubled two debut races and more problems in practice and qualifying in San Marino both drivers were pleased just to have made it to the end.

The car does not lack for speed but with Irvine spinning out in the first two races and Herbert retiring twice with mechanical problems Jaguar can head for their home race at Silverstone in an optimistic mood.

"This was the most fun I have had in a racing car for a long time," said Irvine, who lost two places when a sensor - one of the ones that will be banned in next week's FIA rule changes - failed.

"I wish they had banned the sensors from this race then we wouldn't have had the problem," said technical director Gary Anderson.

Irvine was delighted with his car. "This was a very positive weekend. The car has much improved since Brazil and I had a race long battle with Trulli but couldn't get past him.

"Once he was gone I was over half a second quicker which shows how competitive we are. The clutch problem at the start certainly cost me points."

Herbert, plagued by rumours he is set to be replaced by test driver Luciano Burti before the end of the season, said: "The good thing is that we both finished, we both got to the end of the race and now we have time to push ahead with new developments."