Downbeat Coulthard Glad to Keep Second in Standings

McLaren's David Coulthard endured a disappointing Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Sunday, but the Scot driver found some consolation in the fact that he was still second in the Championship.

Coulthard, who had qualified in a low sixth position on Saturday, retired on lap six of the race when he was running in fifth place. But the McLaren driver, who is fighting for the runner-up spot in the Championship against Rubens Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher, was pleased to keep second place in the standings.

Ferrari's Barrichello, who finished in second place today, is now only three points behind Coulthard, while Schumacher, who was third, is nine points adrift.

"There is no doubt that this has been a race of attrition," Coulthard said after the race. "Unfortunately this didn't work to our advantage as both Mika and I retired.

"It's been a difficult weekend for us with a few problems along the way, but we still hoped to get points. At least I retained my second place in the Championship points standings."

Teammate Mika Hakkinen also retired from the race with a mechanical problem, but not after the Finn struggled for 19 laps having lost several positions at the start of the race. The two-time champion, who announced he will take a year off in 2002, was clearly disappointed.

"The pile up at the first corner after the start caused me to go straight on at the chicane, which cost me several positions and I came out 13th. This was extremely disappointing as us drivers had discussed that we should be particularly careful at the start, as the first chicane is so tight.

"On lap 19 I got stuck in fifth gear and as I went around the chicane I lost all the gears and that was the end of my race."