Fruitless Weekend for Disappointed Jordan

The Jordan team left France with nothing to show for after a very disappointing and troubled weekend for the Silverstone-based squad.

Jordan began Sunday's French Grand Prix with only one car after Giancarlo Fisichella was forced to sit out the race due to a heavy accident on Saturday's practice.

The team made a last-minute request to the FIA to allow Arrows driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen to take Fisichella's seat in today's race, but the German was unable to race due to "contractual obstacles".

Japanese driver Takuma Sato was therefore the man in charge of defending Jordan's colours in the race, but the rookie endured a troubled Grand Prix, first hitting BAR's Olivier Panis at the start of the race, and later going off the track after 24 laps.

"At the first corner I touched Panis and when we went into the gravel trap I think I may have damaged a barge board," Sato said. "After that I had a problem with understeer, but I was having a big fight with de la Rosa.

"Then, at the last corner, one lap before I was due to make my pit stop, I turned the wheel but the car just went straight on and into the gravel trap. Disappointing, but I was enjoying the race until then."