Richards Applauds Sato's Effort

BAR team principal David Richards praised his driver Takuma Sato after the Japanese drove a strong European Grand Prix only to retire with a mechanical failure.

Sato provided plenty of excitement after becoming the first Japanese to start from the front row of the grid, retiring with a blown engine after fighting hard for second place. Sato was heading for a podium finish until he attempted a daring overtaking manoeuvre on Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello on lap 46.

The cars collided at the first corner, Sato damaging his front wing. He pitted for a new one but his engine then let go with a sheet of flame a lap later. Team boss Richards applauded his efforts however.

"The sport needs heroes," Richards said after the race. "It needs people who don't win races by calculating the results of the race on a computer the day before. It needs people who actually take up every opportunity and challenge to the last lap."

Briton Jenson Button, in the second BAR, was third for his fifth podium finish of the season.