Da Matta Unhappy with Blue Flags Situation

Brazilian Cristiano da Matta was pleased after scoring one point at today's Canadian Grand Prix at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit.

The Toyota driver, however, was unhappy with the blue flags situation and claimed he could have finished higher had he not been forced to slow down to let the leaders go several times.

"It was a tough race, but satisfying to take one point away with us today," said da Matta, eighth today. "Again, though, I feel we have been let down from an even better result because of more trouble with the blue flags. The final stint was ridiculous.

"I was letting people past all the time and I was barely able put any proper laps together. I believe we had the ability to fight with Fisichella and Raikkonen for sixth place, but the situation with flags during the race stopped us.

"I know we cannot ruin the race of the guys in front, but we also have points to fight for. Anyway, one point is certainly better than zero and we will see what happens in Indianapolis next weekend."

Frenchman Olivier Panis finished in 10th place following an accident at the start of the race.

"I got a good start, but the Jaguar crashed just in front of me and I had to back off, which left me in ninth place," said Panis.

"The strategy we had for my car could have worked, but unfortunately all of my efforts were hampered by the first incident, where I lost time moving around the cars, as well as by some slow backmarkers."