Gene Pleased with Best Career Result

Marc Gene was delighted with the best result of his Formula One career at today's Italian Grand Prix, where he finished in fifth place.

Spain's Gene, standing in for Ralf Schumacher at Williams after the German driver was ruled out on medical grounds on Saturday morning, finished in fifth position after briefly leading a Grand Prix for the first time in his career.

The Catalan's fleeting moment of fame came on lap 35 after race winner Michael Schumacher's second pitstop and lasted little more than a minute before he also pulled in for fuel.

"This is the best result in my Formula One career, and I am really happy," said Gene. "I think a good performance was to be expected, as I had one of the best cars on the grid. At the start I had a problem with Jarno Trulli which cost me three places, but apart from that the race was good.

"If you get the chance like I did today, you have to make the most of it, and my main priority was to avoid making mistakes, and I think the team is happy with the points I managed to score. I believe the more a driver tests, the better he becomes."

Gene had finished in the points only once before, when he was sixth for Minardi at the 1999 European Grand Prix.