Salo Rules Out Podium Finish in 2002

Finn Mika Salo has ruled out a podium finish with the Toyota team this season, the first year of the Japanese squad in Formula One racing.

The Cologne-based team, believed to be backed by one of the biggest budgets in the sport, have impressed in their first two races in Formula One, scoring their first point at the Australian Grand Prix with a sixth place by Finn Salo.

Both Salo and teammate Allan McNish ran strongly at the Malaysian Grand Prix, although they finished outside the points. However, despite their strong showing so far, Salo is not dreaming of a podium finish this season but hopes to be competitive again in Brazil next week.

"I'm not naive enough to think that we can get on the podium this year, but everything is going so well at the moment that I feel the sky's the limit," said Salo on Toyota's official website. "I think Toyota can expect a relatively good result in Brazil because Interlagos will suit the TF102 very well.

"It's a horsepower circuit, and our engine is good, and you don't have to run maximum downforce, which is an area where we still need to make progress.

"As a team we are improving with every race, particularly the way in which people work together. The mechanics spent together the time between Australia and Malaysia, and I noticed a difference in the way that they worked in Sepang - they were more like a team. If we can make similar progress in Brazil, I'll be pleased."