Minassian breaks Jensen jinx

'This is magic,' Minassian said.

'I got a good start and felt completely in control all the way. The team has had some bad luck this year, particularly in Monaco when a throttle problem cost me second place close to the end.

'But this more than makes up for that.'

Although it was Minassian's first top six finish of the season, he has vaulted to third place in the championship standings.

It was a calm race by F3000 standards - and 24 of the 26 starters were still running at the end.

Bruno Junqueira (Petrobras) clinched second place after pressurising the fast-starting Soheil Ayari (Oreca) into a mistake at Copse Corner on lap 10.

Ayari was then relegated by series leader Nick Heidfeld (West), who recovered from a tardy start to take third place and extend his championship lead to 16 points after five of this season's 10 races.

'You can't win them all,' said Heidfeld, 'and given that we have had a difficult weekend it's good that I have been able to extend my advantage in the series.'

His main rival Gonzalo Rodriguez (Astromega) finished only 15th after stalling at the start.

'It's the first time in my whole career I have done that,' the Uruguayan said.

Ayari's fourth place earned him his first points of the year as he just held off Norberto Fontana (Fortec) at the line.

Sixth went to Franck Montagny (DAMS), who became the 19th different driver this season to have registered a championship point.

It was a disappointing race for the four home drivers. European team-mates Jamie Davies and Oliver Gavin were 12th and 14th, Kevin McGarrity (Nordic) was 23rd and Justin Wilson (Astromega) was not classified after treating the race as a test session.

'We got the set-up about right at the end,' Wilson said, 'so I'm feeling more hopeful about the next race in Austria.'

The series continues at the A1-Ring on July 24.