Minardi looking for points

Afterwards the team insisted that from what they had seen they were looking good for points this season.

Gene was forced to come into the pits to have his car's steering arm changed after the collision with the Prost.

And he admitted: "I am disappointed. The incident was my fault. I touched Nick's car and had to come into the garage.

"But the mechanics did an excellent job to get me out again - I was afraid it was the end of my race - not a good way to end the season."

Gene went on to finish ninth, but Minardi team-mate Gaston Mazzacane - making his Grand Prix debut - was not so fortunate.

He retired on the 41st lap with a gearbox problem.

Team boss Gabriele Rumi declared: "The race didn't start as we had hoped. Marc collided with Heidfeld and damaged his steering arm.

"That messed up our plans but having said that, Marc's pace and lap times proved that, without that hitch, we could have been in the points."