AUGUST 12, 2002

Minardi delays decision for another day

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart was due to decide on Sunday who will be racing for his team this weekend in Hungary - but that decision appears to have been delayed. The team had planned to give Alex Yoong's drive to Formula 3000 driver Justin Wilson (in exchange for some money, it should be added) but the lanky Englishman proved to be too lanky for the 2002 chassis and no amount of squeezing and scrunching could solve the problem. This was a huge disappointment for Wilson and left the team in a difficult situation.

One option might be America's Bryan Herta but he has had very little time in the car and, in the circumstances, it is by no means certain that he would be able to qualify the car in Hungary - which is what the team needs more than anything. There are not many options as the other men who might do the job - Giorgio Pantano and Sebastian Bourdais - are both battling for the Formula 3000 title. Others who could do the job do not have the money that the team would like.

Yoong is experienced in the car and might qualify...