JUNE 13, 2001
Salo back on track after recovery
TOYOTA's Mika Salo returned to action as he ran for the first time since an enforced absence through injury when he completed the final day of an exclusive three-day test on Wednesday.
Salo injured his back in a crash at the Circuit Paul Ricard earlier this year and has not tested since. He completed 25 laps of the Italian circuit and was happy to be back.
"It was great to be back in the car," Salo said. "It has been quite a while since I have driven a Formula One car, but now my back has completely recovered I settled back in well.
"Overall I'm happy with the performance of the car, but it was frustrating that we couldn't do more kilometers."
Salo will get a further chance to test when the team return to the Circuit Paul Ricard later this month and Allan McNish, who ran on Monday and Tuesday, will join him.
McNish, who was also disappointed with the distance covered at Monza, said: "For various reasons, we have not done as many kilometers as I would have liked at this circuit.
"The track was generally very dirty, with little grip, which did not help us achieve all that we wanted to achieve."