Formula One news 2000-03-05

Alain Prost has been speaking to Agence France Presse about the problems the team have been having, and how progress is going.

"I am a lot more optimistic than I was 10 days ago but that does not mean that I am worry free. We are working with a new car - by that I mean a new car as compared to the one we are using even now. We will be working right until the last minute to the extent that some elements of the car will not arrive in Australia until Wednesday."

"There are new mechanical and aerodynamic aspects never tested before. To this extent we can say that the first race will be a glorified testing session. But it is only at this Grand Prix that we will be able to catch up on lost ground."

Prost went on to say that he expected the car to be "of average competitiveness in terms of performance but if we are reliable that is all well and good."

Jean-Pierre Boudy of Peugeot has also named the engine teams target for the year. "As for the beginning of the season we are targeting reliability above all, an objective which is shared by Prost Grand Prix, who are responsible for the chassis"

Boudy went on to deny that the engine was underpowered "If we measure the power of the Peugeot A20 at zero degrees celsius it actually gains 40 horsepower"

Eddie Jordan has spoken of his teams prospects for this year.

"We have McLaren and Ferrari in our sights. If they drop their guard, we will be in there to challenge them. I will be bitterly disappointed if we do anything less than finish third... Whilst there will obviously be a strong challenge from Williams and Jaguar, without being disrespectful to them, it is up to them to catch us."

The News of the World is reporting that Jarno Trulli is asking God for help in his 2000 campaign.

"Yes I am religious. I was in church last Sunday before coming over to Silverstone for testing. I always pray that everything will go well. I know God is looking after me in the car. Even when something really bad happened I'm reminded He is always there, keeping me safe."

-- Stephen M Baines http://www.motorsport.org.uk