Sunday March 3rd, 2002

Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari team may have won the race but there was little doubt the biggest celebration after Sunday's Australian Grand Prix was taking place in the Minardi garage.

The struggling team posted their best result in a Grand Prix since July 1994 after their new Australian driver Mark Webber finished fifth on his Grand Prix debut. The two points Webber collected were Minardi's first since 1999 and the first for their new flamboyant Australian owner Paul Stoddart.

"We already achieved our entire job for this year in one race," a champagne-soaked Stoddart said. "We wanted two points and top 10 in the Constructors' Championship. And we can only improve from here. Now the challenge is to pick up a few more points throughout the season."

Minardi's celebrations were amplified by the amazing success of Webber, only the 51st driver in Formula One history to score a point on debut, and the first Australian to race in a Grand Prix since David Brabham drove for Simtek in 1994.

"This really is a fairy tale, I feel like I've won the race," said Webber, who test drove for Benetton last year while competing in F3000. "I'm just proud that everyone here had a great weekend. It doesn't get any better than this."

Minardi were undoubtedly the main beneficiaries of a first-lap pile-up that wiped out almost half the field, but the manner of their unexpected success did not dampen their wild celebrations.

Going Strong

Only eight of the original starters were still on the circuit when the season-opening race ended but both Minardis were still going strong with Webber's teammate, Malaysian Alex Yoong, finishing seventh.

The two Minardis managed to avoid the carnage mainly because they had started so far back on the grid. Stoddart and Webber later joked that they had followed the same tactics used by Australian speed skater Steven Bradbury to win gold at last month's Winter Olympics in Salt Lake.

Bradbury became Australia's first Winter Olympic champion when the entire field crashed in front of him during the men's 1000 metres short-track final, allowing him to skate through from last place to win the gold.

Coincidentally, Bradbury visited the Minardi team during the build-up to the race and was driven around Albert Park in the team's two-seater.

Minardi's celebrations were so contagious that some of the rival teams were casting a jealous look in their direction. Even Schumacher, despite winning the race, said he was tempted to join the party.

"I was very delighted for them. Minardi has been around so long but it's not happening for them," Schumacher said. "I feel happy for them for what that they achieved and I am sure it will be a big, big party for them...maybe we will join them."

Published at 09:19:48 GMT