Hill fires jab at Jordan team after disappointing qualifying

   Copyright c 1998 Nando Media
   Copyright c 1998 Reuters

SPIELBERG, Austria (Jul 25, 1998 - 14:52 EDT) - Former world champion Damon
Hill took a swipe at his Jordan team on Saturday, blaming them for his
disappointing 15th place in qualifying for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.

Hill, the 1996 world champion, timed his sorties on to the track badly
during the rain-hit session in which teammate Ralf Schumacher was at one
stage on the front row before finishing up ninth.

"I am very disappointed -- we missed a great opportunity today. You
really have to finish your laps just as the session is ending. That is the
first rule of wet weather qualifying," said Hill who has yet to score
a point after nine races since joining the Jordan team this year.

"We did not do that. ... I finished a good few minutes before the end
of the session, which meant I was not able to show what we could do. I
think we could have been in the top four. So, it is hugely frustrating.

"The decision to go out early on in the session for two timed laps was
fine. I wanted to see what the conditions were like and how the car felt.

"There was a slight chance it might rain harder again afterwards, so
that decision was absolutely fine as it did not cost me anything and it
might have proved lucky.

"After that, I decided to go out on intermediate tires which was going
to require all the laps I had left to get them up to temperature.

"What we miscalculated was when to go out for the second time. I went too early.

"I need to discuss this with the team as we really need to get these
things right.

"Starting from 15th place on the grid means it will be difficult to
score points, but not impossible. But, since we are so desperate for
points, we really need to make better use of the opportunities like
today."

Hill signed a two-year contract with the Jordan team in Austria last year
but he has made little impact.

He has been linked with the new British American Racing team, which his
former Williams team mate and defending world champion Jacques Villeneuve
has joined for next season.

He has also said he will retire from the sport if he cannot drive a car
which gives him a chance of being competitive and winning races, but has
indicated he may consider a switch to the United States and Indycar racing.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella grabbed the first pole of his Formula One
career for Benetton in the closing seconds and will share the front row of
the grid with Frenchman Jean Alesi who registered the best qualifying
result for Sauber.

--- Msged/386 4.20 beta 4