Minardi M02

Minardi M02

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Minardi
Designer(s)	Gustav Brunner
Technical specifications
Chassis	Moulded carbon fibre composite structure
Suspension (front)	double wishbones, pushrod
Suspension (rear)	double wishbones, pushrod
Engine	rear-mounted Fondmetal Cosworth 72-degree Normally aspirated V10
Transmission	Minardi titanium six-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential
Fuel	Elf
Tyres	Bridgestone
Competition history
Notable entrants	Minardi
Notable drivers	20. Marc Gené 21. Gastón Mazzacane
Debut	Australian GP 2000
Races Wins Poles Fastest laps 17 0 0 0
Constructors' Championships	2000
Drivers' Championships	2000

The Minardi M02 was the car with which the Minardi Formula One team competed in the 2000 Formula One season. It was driven by the young Spaniard Marc Gené, in his second year with the team, and the Argentine rookie pay-driver Gastón Mazzacane.^[1] As ever, the car was a neat and tidy design, but hampered by a lack of power and testing mileage. The new yellow colour scheme turned heads, but did little to improve the team's fortunes, as they eventually finished a de facto tenth in the constructors' championship, with no points but ahead of Prost due to a better finishing record.^[2] The team therefore qualified for some of the sport's television revenues in 2001.

At the end of the year, Telefonica pulled out of sponsoring the team,^[3] while Fondmetal boss Gabriele Rumi was forced to sell the team due to ill health, leaving team founder Giancarlo Minardi with the task of finding the budget for 2001. Fortunately, the team was eventually bought by the Australian entrepreneur, Paul Stoddart.^[4]

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Points	WCC
2000	Minardi	Fondmetal V10	B		AUS	BRA	SMR	GBR	ESP	EUR	MON	CAN	FRA	AUT	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	USA	JPN	MAL	0	NC
				Marc Gené	8	Ret	Ret	14	14	Ret	Ret	16	15	8	Ret	15	14	9	12	Ret	Ret
				Gastón Mazzacane	Ret	10	13	15	15	8	Ret	12	Ret	12	11	Ret	17	10	Ret	15	13

^[5]

References

1. ^ "Mazzacane and Alonso join Gene at Minardi". grandprix.com. 2000-02-21. http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns02332.html. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
2. ^ "Formula 1 results archive". FIA. http://www.formula1.com/results/team/2000/. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
3. ^ "Minardi lose Telefonica backing". BBC News. 2000-10-17. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/976153.stm. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
4. ^ "Australian tycoon buys Formula One team Minardi". The Independent. 2001-01-30. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/australian-tycoon-buys-formula-one-team-minardi-705017.html. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
5. ^ "Formula 1 results archive–Minardi 2000". FIA. http://www.formula1.com/results/team/2000/2052.html. Retrieved 2010-12-12.