Stoddart Confident Minardi Will Overcome Recession

European Minardi team boss Paul Stoddart is confident his team will defeat any recession that hits the sport.

Stoddart said at last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix that he feared the teams could be severely affected by any worldwide recession after the terrorist attacks on America.

But the Australian boss is confident his team, one of the smallest on the grid, will be there for the start of next season in his homeland.

"It's probably not fair to comment on other teams, but I would say that I think we'll be there next year and I expect most of the others to be there too," said Stoddart, who added that he has doubts over the situation rivals Prost are in and said it is up to his counterpart Alain Prost to decide if he wants to plough funds into his own operation to keep it on the grid.

"I think he is the only person who knows the answer to the Prost problems and that's Alain himself," he added. "I can't see a scenario in which I wont get there. The others, bar one, I think will feel the same. But if Prost wants to put money into it, well, it's a personal decision. His choice."