Dismal Saturday for Minardi Duo

The Minardi team endured a dismal qualifying ahead of tomorrow's San Marino Grand Prix, the fourth round of the 2004 season.

Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner will start the race from 18th position after spinning his car on his flying lap. The Minardi driver, however, was to be penalised after he was forced to switch to his spare car and so to a new engine following an accident in practice.

Italian teammate Gianmaria Bruni also had a difficult day and finished over seven seconds off the pace after accidentally engaging his car's speed limiter on his flying lap.

"Sadly, this has been our worst qualifying performance of the year and not one of which we are proud," said team principal Paul Stoddart. "Zsolt spun on his final run and Gimmi accidentally engaged the pitlane speed limiter when exiting the last corner of the circuit on his flying lap.

"The result is that both Minardi entries failed to demonstrate their potential. This will make tomorrow's race difficult, but it's another day, and we look forward to completing one of our home races."