Toyota Play Down Impressive Practice Pace

The Toyota Formula One team made a surprising Grand Prix debut in Friday's practice for the Australian Grand Prix, with Finn Mika Salo posting a very promising sixth quickest time. But chief designer Gustav Brunner was quick to play down the team's performance.

"The weather was obviously not on our side this morning, but generally we are very happy with the first session," said Brunner. "The team worked very well together and also the car functioned well, but we are not as good as it seems on the timesheets.

"Tomorrow we have to continue with this and qualify as well as we can. All systems are go and I am quite positive."

Finn Salo, who was returning to racing after he decided to take 2001 off in order to help Toyota in their intensive testing programme, enjoyed his first official session at the wheel of the Michelin-shod TF102, finishing only behind the two Ferraris, the two Williams, and the Sauber of Nick Heidfeld.

"The practice went as we expected really," Salo said after the session. "The circuit was wet to start with and we knew we would struggle because of a lack of downforce and lack of experience with the tyres. When the track was dry, the car seemed to be performing well and we had no problems with the car really and it was quite a motivating day."

Scot Allan McNish could not match his more experienced teammate's pace today, and finished down in 16th place in the first official Grand Prix session of his Formula One career. The rookie, however, was happy with his progress.

"The session today was pretty good but unfortunately it was interrupted by wet weather conditions," said McNish. "We have made some small progress with the car but I think the circuit is still green right now. We tried to keep our heads down and do our job, which everyone did very well. Overall I am happy with how it has gone, but I hope it will be dry tomorrow."