Webber Welcomes Unexpected Points

Jaguar's Australian driver Mark Webber was delighted to score two points at the Italian Grand Prix today.

"Monza has not been our most competitive performance of the season and if someone had told me before the race began that I would finish in seventh place with two championship points, it would have been hard to believe," said Webber after the race.

"To have salvaged two points from what was a tough weekend for us is a big, big result â€" especially in light of Villeneuve's sixth place. Unlike Justin who unfortunately retired, my car was reliable today and the balance was very good. With two races to go and fifth place still beckoning, the battle is far from finished."

Jaguar are currently in sixth place in the Constructors' Championship, only one point behind the BAR team, whose driver Jacques Villeneuve finished in front of Webber today. There are only two races remaining in the United States and Japan.

Webber's teammate Justin Wilson had to retire at the start due to a problem with his gearbox. It was the Briton's third consecutive retirement.

"During the formation lap, I experienced a problem in engaging first gear. With no time available to address the problem, I had no choice but to start the race in second gear," the Briton explained.

"As we have long gears for Monza, I didn't even make it off the line when the red lights went out."