Japanese Grand Prix - Race Report
October 29, 1995

Mika Salo in the Points Again

Mika Salo drove a superb race in today's Japanese Grand Prix and finished 
6th, scoring one more point for the Nokia Tyrrell Yamaha team. It was a very 
difficult race in tricky weather conditions, but Mika did not put a wheel 
wrong.

Ukyo Katayama was less fortunate in his home Grand Prix. After badly 
damaging his left thumb in the warm-up, he found driving difficult and lost 
his car on lap 12.

Mika Salo: "We went for a wet set-up for the race and it dried out quite 
quickly so I was slow on the straight, because we carried too much wing, but 
quick in the corners. That's why b...y Inoue held me up for 15 laps when he 
was 2 seconds a lap slower, trying really hard to block me until he went 
into the pits. Panis passed me because of Inoue and I thought he was going 
to take Panis off as well! When it started to rain at the back of the 
circuit, I saw Hill going off on the big screen and I thought 'Good, next 
lap there will be more cars out'. And the next lap it was Coulthard! It was 
very slippery only in this corner, it was quite funny! At the end it was 
close with Mark Blundell and I was flat out for 10 laps."

Ukyo Katayama: "I am very upset not to finish my home Grand Prix. During the 
warm-up I badly damaged the ligaments of my left thumb on the steering wheel 
in the Degner curve. I saw my physiotherapist but I was very handicapped and 
I couldn't use my left thumb at all. I couldn't use the left down shift 
button and it was difficult to concentrate. Finally I lost the car. It's a 
shame because the weather was very tricky on a circuit I know well and I 
could have scored a point."

Harvey Postlethwaite, Managing Director - Engineering: "It's a tremendous 
result for the team after a difficult season to score a point in Yamaha's 
home Grand Prix. Mika drove a superb race despite being badly held up by 
several back markers which he could not pass as he was carrying a lot of 
wing on wet settings. But he drove a perfect race and did not make any 
mistakes in the wet. It was Mika's race and we did not do very much! The 
track conditions were very difficult from beginning to end. Very well done 
Mika!"

"Ukyo badly damaged his thumb in the warm-up and was very courageous to 
drive in the race. We are obviously disappointed he was unable to finish his 
home Grand Prix."

Takaaki Kimura, Yamaha F1 Project Leader: "We are very happy to have scored 
another point, especially as it is our home Grand Prix! Mika drove a really 
super race and we congratulate him on that. It's a pity for Ukyo that his 
race ended early but his injury might have affected his concentration. We 
had no engine problems throughout the weekend, which is very encouraging for 
the last GP, but we must try and find a little more speed."