Trulli Dedicates Podium to Sick Friend

Italian Jarno Trulli dedicated his podium finish at Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix to a sick friend, former Renault race mechanic Dino Toso.

Trulli, 29, finished third behind the two Ferraris of victor Michael Schumacher of Germany and his teammate Brazilian Rubens Barrichello. It was his second podium for the team. His previous one was at the German Grand Prix last year.

"I'm pleased for me, and I'm pleased for my team, my mechanics, the Renault team," said the Italian. "But most of all I am pleased because I can dedicate this race to a friend of mine, Dino, who I'm sure is watching me on TV. He has to fight a big battle, a very strong battle.

"We will battle together and I will bring him my trophy."

Asked about Toso's illness, the team declined to explain what it was that had caused Toso to be sick.

Trulli now has 21 points in the Drivers' Championship and is level with Renault teammate Spaniard Fernando Alonso in fourth place behind Schumacher, Barrichello and BAR-Honda driver Briton Jenson Button.

He and Alonso have finished together in the points in every race this season - a feat achieved only by them and World Champions Ferrari - and Trulli has finished ahead of his teammate in three of the five races.

He took the lead at the start, at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona, but he lost it in the pitstops and was forced to fend off Alonso after the Spaniard closed in on him towards the end.

"I had a very good start, but it was right on the limit of a jump start," said Trulli. "It was actually quite a gamble because we sat there for longer than normal and, fortunately, I reacted the right time. I was doing my pace at the beginning, quite easily. The car was reacting well and I was keeping Michael behind me. He only took me when we pitted, because he was quicker than me, as simple as that.

"This podium means a lot to me because we have been working really hard and we have been close many times to this podium but maybe one mistake from me, a little bit of misfortune, really took this podium away (at other times).

"So I am pleased to be here today and I hope it is not going to be the first and the last time I am up here. I hope to visit the podium again and now we are looking forward to the next race in Monte Carlo."