FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1st April 2001

Brazilian star Antonio Pizzonia looked set to score a sensational debut F3000 victory, only to be stopped in his tracks by a stop-go penalty following a controversial safety car incident at the Interlagos circuit in Brazil on Saturday. The reigning British F3 champion was leading the first race he has competed in at the Interlagos circuit for the Petrobras Junior team by a comfortable four seconds when he was forced to pit. But he returned to the race and fought back up the field to finish ninth. 

Pizzonia was penalised along with Tomas Enge and Rodrigo Sperafico after all three passed leader Jaime Melo when the safety car came out on the first lap. All three drivers believed that Melo had slowed with a problem, but the Brazilian picked up his pace again after they had gone by. 

"To be honest, I don't really know what happened," Pizzonia said. "Melo slowed down really quickly so I thought he had a problem. I overtook him and then the marshal waved the yellow flags. In my opinion I was in front of him before they showed the safety car board at Turn Four. What can I do? It took the stewards a long time to make the decision to penalise me so I'm not sure they were completely convinced." 

At the restart on lap five, Pizzonia pulled away from Enge and had quickly built a four second lead at which point he wanted to preserve his tyres. He maintained the gap up to the point of his stop-go penalty. When he rejoined, Antonio was in 12th place but made up three places and had taken the fastest lap of the race by the chequered flag. Antonio was unlucky not to continue his incredible track record of taking the first victory in every new Formula debut race he has competed in. He won his debut race in Kart, Barber Dodge, Formula Vauxhall, Formula Renault and Formula Three. 

"On the positive side, I drove a good race. I was easily controlling the situation, but when something like this happens it spoils everything. I had made a good start because the only one I didn't beat from my fourth place on the grid was Jaime. Hopefully I can drive as well during the rest of the season." 

www.antoniopizzonia.net
For further information please contact Carl Gerrish at Allstar International on (07798) 682588 or (01327) 855535