F1 Japanese GP: Kimi Raikkonen wins from 17th on the Grid

Jacques Villeneuve, Sauber, tenth place: "We changed my strategy after the safety car came out, but once the others who had already pitted came by ahead of me as I rejoined after refuelling I knew that was it. The car was good, and I think mine was faster than Felipe’s. I was catching him at the end but big deal, we fought for 10th place. Not a glorious day! "As for Montoya on the first lap, I never even saw him so I have no idea what he might have been trying to do when he went off."

Felipe Massa, Sauber, 11th: "I had a problem with the anti-stall activating itself at the start, which didn’t help as I lost places. I got past Jacques with my two-stop strategy, which was good, and the car was okay. The balance was fine, but we just weren’t quick enough today."

Peter Sauber, Sauber Team Principal: "Both drivers had strong and consistent races. Although we split the strategies after the safety car came out, Felipe and Jacques were less than a second apart at the finish which suggests that our result was the best we could have hoped for today."

Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari, 12th: “This was a tough race for me, ruined by what happened on the opening lap. I was trying really hard to overtake Villeneuve around the outside and everything was going okay. I could not close the door too much on Jacques. I had Sato in my sight so I could see him going off the track. With him in front of me as he went off the track, I found myself with no downforce and also ended up in the gravel. Then I had to come in as my left rear tyre was punctured. With the Safety Car on track, we changed strategy, going for a single refuelling stop, but I was too far back and there was not much I could do.”

Takuma Sato, BAR-Honda, 13th: "This is a very disappointing result for me after the incredible support that I have experienced here from the fans. The start was difficult and through the first corner I was side by side with Klien and ran wide. Rubens came from behind, ran off in front of me and we made contact, which damaged the front of my car and then both of us went into the gravel. We changed the strategy but it didn't work well for me and then I had the coming together with Trulli which was another blow to my race. I'm hugely disappointed for the myself, the fans, the team and Honda, but I will be back here racing at Suzuka."

Tiago Monteiro, Jordan, 14th: “I think I had a good race on a track I did not really know in the dry. I was wondering how it was going to be, but I managed to get quickly behind my direct competitors at the beginning and I pushed really hard all the way. We were on a great optimum fuel strategy, I needed to be really close to them and push as much as possible when they came to pit. I didn’t make any mistakes and I am very happy to finish 14th here on a difficult track.”

Robert Doornbos, Minardi F1, 15th: “It was a good race. We brought it to the chequered flag, so I’m happy about that. My rhythm when the Safety Car first came out, though, was not as good as it could have been. I still have to learn a more about how the tyres react in such situations, but the result was that I wasn’t able to push as hard as I would have liked once the race restarted. After the first pit stop, though, I started to push hard, and was able to pass Karthikeyan’s Jordan in the last chicane, which was good motivation. Finally, I have to say sorry to the pit crew, as I lost a bit of concentration, missed my braking point for the second pit stop, and clipped one of my mechanics, Roberto Venturi. I now know that he is okay, if bruised, but I’m relieved for that”.

Paul Stoddart, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth: “Today really was ‘the one that got away’, as we clearly had a faster race car than Jordan, but due to mistakes by both drivers in their second pit stops, we weren’t able to capitalise on our advantage. The team did derive some satisfaction, however, from the fact that three former Minardi drivers finished in the top four positions of today’s race”.

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