Jordan Looking for First Points in Brazil

Jordan, without any points after the first two races of the Formula One season, hope Giancarlo Fisichella will rectify that in Brazil this weekend.

The Italian, who joined from Benetton - now Renault - at the end of last year, has a history of finishing in the top six against the odds at Interlagos.

The Roman was a surprise second in a Benetton at the Sao Paulo circuit in 2000 and came sixth last year in a car that ranked among the least competitive on the grid and that did not score another point for nine races. In 1998 he was also sixth for Benetton.

Jordan have had a nightmare start to the season, with Fisichella caught in a first lap pile-up in Australia and Japanese rookie Takuma Sato then driving into the back of his teammate in Malaysia two weeks ago.

But the team also have a good record in Brazil, with Jarno Trulli fifth there last year and fourth behind team mate Heinz Harald Frentzen in third in 2000.

"We've had four points finishes in three years and two of those were podiums in 1999 and 2000," commented Eddie Jordan in a team preview. "Giancarlo has finished in the points here three times in the past four years, with a second place in 2000, so I am expecting him to perform well.

"It would be great to score our first points of the season at this race."

Both Jordans finished in Malaysia despite their collision and ran without problems in Spain last week.

"Testing in Barcelona has confirmed that the EJ12 is becoming a very reliable car," said Gary Anderson, the team's head of race and test engineering.