Feature: F1's Middle Men Chase Cash

Cash as much as kudos will be driving Sauber, BAR, Jaguar and Toyota towards the chequered flag in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

The battle for Formula One's fifth place, far removed from the title jousting, hardly makes for sensational back-page reading.

If, as McLaren boss Ron Dennis likes to observe, second is just another name for the first of the losers then finishing fifth is not much to shout about.

The gulf between the lesser lights and the elite is enormous, with fourth-ranked Renault having scored more points - 84 - than the six teams beneath them combined (82).

But just one point can make a big difference to a cash-strapped team's finances, a bonus valued potentially in millions of dollars.

When Japan's Takuma Sato, who will be making his BAR debut on Sunday in place of Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, finished fifth for Jordan at Suzuka last year it sent cash registers ringing in Eddie Jordan's head.

Jordan were catapulted from eighth to sixth, Sato's points worth a couple of million dollars in the distribution of television money based on title rankings.

This year's mid-table battle is a cliffhanger, unlike the drivers' contest which Ferrari's Michael Schumacher has turned into something of a foregone conclusion after it had promised to be the closest finale in years.

Sauber, who were ninth out of 10 before the last race, catapulted themselves up to fifth after Heinz-Harald Frentzen finished third and Nick Heidfeld came fifth in Indianapolis.

BAR are sixth, a point behind Sauber's 19 and level with Jaguar, while Toyota are eighth on 14. Jordan are on 13 and can still hope to overtake the Japanese car giant.

Most Important

"The Japanese Grand Prix is possibly the most important race of the season for Toyota," said team boss Ove Andersson in his team's race preview. "Not only is it our official home race but we also find ourselves in a very close battle in the Constructors' Championship with only six points splitting fifth place from ninth."

Ford-owned Jaguar, who took over the Stewart team at the end of 1999, have never finished higher than seventh overall. "To have found ourselves fighting for fifth at the end of the 2003 season is certainly not something we had imagined back in Melbourne," said managing director David Pitchforth.

"We set out to achieve respect on track in 2003 and having achieved this already, finishing fifth would be a bonus. It would be a huge boost in morale for us and of course an increase in budget."

Jaguar's Justin Wilson will be particularly motivated since Suzuka will be the last race before the team decides whether to keep him for next season or go with one of the many other aspirants.

"It's important for the team and for all the guys," said Wilson, who started the season at Minardi before replacing Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia in August. "You've got to aim as high as you can and we all know there are financial gains as well."

The circuit is home for BAR's engine partner Honda, who will be running a 'Suzuka Special' to try to win back fifth place after two blown engines in the US Grand Prix.

Jordan Dismay

Jordan are heading for their worst season since 1993, when they were 10th overall. The irony of the effect of changes meant to help smaller teams, with scoring changed from 10-6-4-3-2-1 to 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 this year, is not lost on team boss Eddie Jordan.

Under the old system, Jordan would have 10 points and be ahead of Sauber (nine), BAR (five), Toyota (four) and Jaguar (three).

"It was my idea to have the points changed because I felt it would give teams such as Minardi a better chance of seeing their efforts rewarded," Jordan told Britain's Sun newspaper this week.

"I thought it was a good proposal and a fairer and better way of distributing the points. I was delighted when it was accepted but now I feel pretty sick. It has cost us a bucket full of dosh so I think I'll keep my clever ideas to myself in the future."