Minardi Pleased with Double Race Finish

The Minardi team were happy after both their drivers made it to the end of today's Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.

Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner, competing in his team's 20th season in Formula One, finished the race in 16th position four laps down after having to fight a cold that has been hindering since the start of the Grand Prix.

"It was a very hard race and I had some problems, as I picked up a cold earlier in the week here in Brazil," said Baumgartner. " As a result, I was a little worried about how I would be during the race, as this is a very physically demanding track, As it turned out, I was able to concentrate and push hard right to the end with a very consistent pace.

"I'm happy with today's result and with the lap times, and I'd like to express my thanks to the whole team for their efforts this season, as well as to Bridgestone for the excellent tyres they have provided throughout the year. Today was my 20th Grand Prix and I am very pleased to have finished the race."

His Italian teammate Gianmaria Bruni also finished four laps down. The rookie lost time when both him and Baumgartner pitted at the same time and then again during his final pitstop, when he tried to return to the track before the refuelling rig had been detached from the car.

"All told, it wasn't a very good day for me," admitted Bruni. "I started the race on shallow wet tyres and, after a few laps, had to come in, but with Zsolt also coming in, I lost a bit of time. When I changed to dry tyres with the set-up we had, the car developed a lot of oversteer, which lasted for much of the race.

"We couldn't really improve the situation, but in the last stint, I think maybe the track improved a bit and the set-up started to work better, so I was able to turn some better lap times. Having lost some of time during my last pitstop, though, I just concentrated on getting to the chequered flag."