Anderson Angry with Gene

Minardi's Marc Gene did not make any friends today after acting as a road block to several competitors who tried to lap him, before receiving a stop-go penalty for his uncooperative driving.

Worst hit was Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine, who needed four laps to get past the Spaniard, leaving Jaguar technical director Gary Anderson unimpressed.

"That Minardi hogging the road cost Eddie any chance of a points finish. I don’t understand why the blue flags weren’t waved because it was plain for all to see," fumed an angry Anderson.

After the race, Gene noted that his radio wasn't working, and that he was not aware that he was a lap behind Irvine. Gene explained: "As Irvine got behind me, I was waved blue flags late, therefore I did not know whether I had to defend my position or I had to let him pass; I have asked the team what I must do but radios were not working good and I did not succeed in having a good communication with the pit-wall. So I didn't let him pass and I was given a stop and go penalty as a result.

"I feel sad for I caused Irvine to lose time but I didn't act like this on purpose; if I had been informed that he was overlapping me I would have moved away as I always do in these cases."

Gene also caused similar problems for third placed McLaren driver David Coulthard, who lost nearly two seconds in one lap, thereby ruining the Scot's chance to pass Michael Schumacher during the final pit stops.

"Not to make excuses, I seemed to lose a lot of time behind the four Minardis that seemed to be out there. Michael cut the traffic well but I was stuck behind the Minardi between turn five and turn ten and if you look at the time I lost there it’s the difference between getting out of the pits ahead of Michael or not," commented Coulthard.