Irvine says Jaguar is closing the gap
Eddie Irvine has insisted that Jaguar is on its way up the grid because the Big Cat's new aerodynamic package is beginning to pay dividends
Although the Ulsterman struggled to 12th on the grid for Sunday's European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, he is confident that the new improvements, which were introduced in Monaco, will improve their performances significantly.
"The new aero package has certainly made a difference in that we have never been so close to the midfield pack," said Irvine. "We have closed the gap on our key competitors like Jordan, BAR and Sauber. We are usually half a second off that group and the gap is now down to a
tenth.
"I don't recall being so close to that group before and it is disappointing to have lost my flying lap through a yellow flag. Maybe we should have started my final run a little sooner," he rued.
The Big Cat team's first year in Formula One in 2000 saw them collect just four world championship points, but they have bettered that in just half of the 2001 season.
Irvine scored Jaguar's first ever podium finish at Monaco, while team mate Pedro de la Rosa finished sixth in Canada two weeks ago.
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