Salo scores another point for Toyota

The Finn, who qualified in the top 10, took advantage when Jarno Trulli's Renault engine blew with 10 laps to go, and also the exit of McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, who ploughed off the track at Turn 4.

"This is quite amazing for the new car," said Salo. "This is still the same car as we raced in Australia, and it can only get better from now. We've had great reliability all season, too."

Salo admitted the 30-degree heat got to him in the latter stages.

"It was quite hard work, I was getting tired at the end," he said. "It was tough because the car wasn't that well balanced and my times were going down."

His team-mate Allan McNish spun out after suffering from deteriorating handling, thanks to running over the front wing of Juan Pablo Montoya on the opening lap.