Stoddart Dreams of Podium Finish Next Year

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart dreams to have one of his cars on the podium in 2002, but the Australian businessman says realistically the small Faenza-based team aim to finish as high as eighth place in the Constructors' Championship.

Minardi were the only Formula One team who didn't score any points in the 2001 season, when they used the three-year old Ford engines. For next season, however, the team have landed free Asiatech units and Stoddart is confident Minardi will finally be able to move forward and score their first points since the European Grand Prix in 1999.

"My dream is a podium, but I know that you have got to be realistic and before that we are going to have to get reliable enough to be able to race with everybody," Stoddart told Autosport.

"I think realistically we can finish between eighth and tenth in the Championship, as there are two teams I think we can beat next year."

Minardi, who recently lost Spanish star Fernando Alonso to the Renault team, have yet to announce who will partner Malaysian Alex Yoong next season.