Minardi boss ecstatic as Marques gets green light

Spaniard Fernando Alonso qualified 19th on the 22-car grid, while Brazil's Tarso Marques has been allowed to start 22nd and last by the stewards after failing to set a time within the 107 per cent of the pole time specified in the regulations.

While their rivals have notched up almost 4000 miles of winter testing, Minardi's two cars, which are powered by re-badged, two-year old Ford V10s, were finished just a week ago and have done only 50 miles in testing.

But just six weeks after rescuing the F1 minnow from extinction, the British-based Aussie aviation entrepreneur watched both hastily prepared European-Minardis make the grid.

Despite a catalogue of problems which resulted in him missing the magic 107 per cent qualifying cut, race officials cleared Marques to compete, quoting "exceptional circumstances".

"This is just reward for six-and-a-half weeks of relentless effort by everyone in the team," Stoddart said. "I think this weekend we have earned the respect of our peers in the pit lane. After Fernando's performance, people have stopped asking me about the surprise I had been promising. They now know."

Melbourne-born Stoddart defended Marques, who is back in F1 - and Minardi - after two years in Champ Cars.

"I really feel for Tarso since he seems to have shouldered all the team's problems over the past two days. But I can only praise his performance," he said. "In the end, he was within 107 per cent of everyone except Michael Schumacher, who really put in a stunning qualifying session. I'm so pleased the stewards decided to include Tarso in the race. We haven't seen the best of him yet."

The Brazilian's troubled weekend so far includes an accident and a number of blown engines.

"It has been a difficult day but at least I am in the race," said Marques. "The car has been nervous on the brakes and I spun it at Turn Three. I used Fernando's car and improved by seven-tenths but it just wasn't enough. Anyway I'm very pleased the stewards have decided to let me race."