Happy Irvine Eyeing Points Finish

Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine is aiming to finish in the points for the second time this season after a strong qualifying performance in today's qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Irishman, who finished in fourth place at the season opening Australian Grand Prix back in March, completed Jaguar's best qualifying effort of the year, setting the eighth quickest time of the session.

Irvine, whose Cosowrth-powered Jaguar R3B is using a revised front suspension this weekend, admitted he had gone faster than expected and was not ruling out scoring some points in the race.

"We had a feeling going into qualifying that we could get it together and deliver a respectable performance," said Irvine. "We have certainly gone quicker than even we expected and all credit must go to Michelin for producing a good compound.

"The race, however, will be very tough and as always, the weather will inevitably play a part. After such a difficult season, we now find ourselves at the sharp end and I will be looking to put on a good fight tomorrow.

"The car felt pretty well balanced throughout and felt like it could deliver the lap time almost immediately. The team must also be credited for doing a great job and let's hope I can repay them tomorrow with a similar performance and who knows, maybe even a point."

Irvine's teammate Pedro de la Rosa finished just outside the top ten, some two tenths of a second behind the first of the Jaguars.