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Gene Dreams of Podium but Ready to Help Montoya

Spaniard Marc Gene dreamed of an Italian Grand Prix podium finish after qualifying an impressive fifth on Saturday for his first Formula One race in nearly three years.

Spaniard Marc Gene dreamed of an Italian Grand Prix podium finish after qualifying an impressive fifth on Saturday for his first Formula One race in nearly three years.

But the Williams test driver, drafted in after Ralf Schumacher was ruled out on medical grounds, said he would help title-chasing teammate Juan Pablo Montoya should he be in a position to do so on Sunday.

"I don't think I can really help Juan Pablo unless there is a problem, something unexpected," he said. "Obviously then I will try to help him."

Colombian Montoya is a point behind Michael Schumacher with two races left after Monza. Both start on the front row, with the World Champion's Ferrari on pole. Team orders are banned in Formula One after Ferrari's contrived finish to last year's Austrian Grand Prix drew worldwide anger. But there is a grey area over team tactics.

Gene, who drove for Minardi in 1999 and 2000 and scored one point, was suddenly cast in the role of Spain's big hope after Fernando Alonso - winner in Hungary last month - spun his Renault and qualified last.

Morning Call

The Catalan first heard that he would be racing on Saturday after Ralf saw International Automobile Federation (FIA) medical delegate Sid Watkins. The German crashed heavily in testing last week and complained of headaches after taking part in practice and qualifying on Friday. His absence effectively ended his Championship hopes.

Gene, with his contractual position still open, was under enormous pressure and he came through his big test with his reputation considerably enhanced.

He has raced at Monza before, tested there extensively for Williams and also competed in the Nissan world series at the circuit a few months ago. But he had never tried the new single-lap qualifying format.

"It won't be such a difficult thing tomorrow," he said. "For me, the most difficult time was today in qualifying.

"Formula One is a human sport but it is also a technical sport. At Minardi I did some very good qualifying performances but people did not take so much notice until today. But that's the way life is.

"Usually you don't get a chance and if you get it you have to make the most of it. Today was a chance for my career to be finished or to carry on, you know. If a racing driver makes a mistake, it is accepted. If a reserve driver that does a race makes a mistake on his single lap, he's dead."

Gene said he had pushed hard without taking too many risks and might have clocked a faster time had he not started first.

"I think it's not impossible to dream of a podium. Definitely that will be my dream, being on the podium. Starting fifth it's feasible. But I don't want to think about it because I am very happy how things are going up to now and I will just try to enjoy tomorrow.

"The team are not surprised but happier than I expected them to be. It looks like some people appreciate the difficulty of being woken up and told to race."

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