Barrichello dedicates race to Rodriguez

Rodriguez died when he crashed into a concrete wall at 140mph during practice for the CART race at Leguna Seca on Saturday.

'I would like to dedicate this race to Gonzalo Rodriguez, who we lost yesterday during qualifying for the CART race at Laguna Seca,' said the Brazilian, who moved up to sixth in the drivers' championship past Giancarlo Fisichella with his battling drive to fourth.

'He was a good friend and a real fighter. I spent a lot of the time before the race thinking about him.'

Barrichello was one of the few early movers as he scrapped his way past three drivers in the early stages of the race.

The four points mean Stewart jumps ahead of Benetton to fifth place in the constructors' championship.

'I'm really pleased with today's result. The car felt very good throughout the race and allowed me to drive very aggressively,' said Barrichello.

'The team did a great job giving me a car I could run at the front.

'A podium finish was very close at one stage but we lost a little time during the pit stop.

'Third place would have been a nice reward for Jackie and Paul, and the whole Stewart-Ford team - and for my future fans here in Italy.'

Johnny Herbert's miserable season continued as he retired on lap 40 with clutch failure after an eventful race.

'At the exit to the first chicane Panis stopped ahead of me and I ran into the back of him.

'Fortunately I must have hit him square on because there was no damage to the front wing but the incident allowed everybody to get by me and I dropped to 20th.'

As he fought back up the field his clutch failed.

'It just suddenly went when I shifted into sixth gear at the end of the pit straight,' said Irvine.

'It sums up my weekend which has been pretty much up and down. I haven't been able to
get the car running consistently.'

Team boss Paul Stewart added, 'The most important aspect is moving to fifth place in the constructors' championship.'