Ups and Downs in Indiana

By Vicki Mabbott
October 1 2002

Jaguar Racing today paid the price for yesterday’s unexpected and somewhat disappointing qualifying performance for the US Grand Prix.

Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa started the U.S. Grand Prix in 13th and 17th positions respectively and with that mind, it was decided that both drivers should adopt a one-stop strategy for the 73-lap race, thereby making the Jaguars relatively heavy for the first half of the race. Subsequently, both drivers lost two positions by the end of lap three and after ten laps, Eddie came under pressure from the BAR-Honda of Oliver Panis in 11th place. With many runners coming in for the first of a scheduled two-stop strategy, Eddie and Pedro had climbed up to 14th and 16th positions by lap 28, but that’s where Pedro’s race sadly ended with what appears to have been a transmission problem. Eddie, however, drove a determined race and as expected, the race pace of the Jaguar R3 really began to manifest itself. Eddie consistency posted personal best lap times and on lap 44, Eddie came into the pits for his one and only pit stop. By lap 58, Eddie had climbed up to 10th place and began chasing for the ninth place occupied by the Sauber of Nick Heidfeld. A two second gap was reduced to two-tenths and at the end of the long start/finish straight, Eddie made a move on Heidfeld, albeit unsuccessfully. In the end, Eddie had to settle for a 10th place finish to what should have been the third consecutive points scoring weekend for Jaguar Racing.