DHL Jordan Honda team boss Eddie Jordan was delighted with today's fifth place in the Japanese Grand Prix which brought the team 6th place in the World Championship for Constructors.  He warmly embraced Takuma Sato after the the Japanese star secured the two critical championship points and thanked him for producing such a strong performance.

"I have to admit I didn’t expect Takuma to come here and qualify seventh and finish fifth," he admitted.  "But he drove a perfect race and showed the talent I’ve been telling everyone about."

As the team launched into excited post-race celebrations Jordan was left to reflect upon a race which was on a knife edge for the team, Sato battling against initial oversteer to overcome the challenge posed by the Renaults of Jarno Trulli and Jensen Button.

"He had a little problem with understeer in the middle of the race but the team called the right shots when James (Key) and Gary (Anderson) decided to give him more front wing at his pit stop," said Jordan.  "You could see it transformed the car to make it more competitive and then he was away. It has been a tough battle in the Championship midfield this season and finishing sixth is very important to us as it brings us respectability. I’m very pleased for Takuma as he did a great job. The crowd went wild for him and I’m sure there will be a party in town tonight."

Sato paraded down the pit straight in front of the main grandstand after the race, to the delight of his home crowd and followed every inch of the way by several dozen media photographers and camera crews.

The result was a final boost for the Jordan Honda partnership in their last race together.  "I have had five fantastic years with Honda," said Jordan," including three race wins so I have to thank them.  I think they made the biggest improvement of any engine manufacturer during this season.  Now I have to concentrate on achieving even more with Ford from next season."

While the entire DHL Jordan Honda team will celebrate today's result in Japan as well as at the team's Silverstone and Brackley bases, attention will soon switch to progressing plans for 2003 with the Jordan Ford EJ13.  With 6th place in the Championship secure after a tough season the team is now looking forward to a more competitive performance next year.