McLaren looks to third way
McLaren boss Ron Dennis has defended his team’s right to use a third car on grand prix weekends.
Dennis’ team are permitted to run Pedro de la Rosa on the Friday of a race weekend after their disappointing fifth place in the constructors’ championship.
But the sight of a top team such as McLaren clocking up vital laps on a Friday has led rivals to call for an end to the scheme, which was originally introduced to help smaller outfits who finished outside the top four in the championship.
Dennis is determined to take advantage of the third car rule.
He said: “The reality is that the teams unanimously agreed to the process. We’re not exploiting anything that doesn’t exist in the rules.
“If we went into the last grand prix and we were in a position that would put us fourth in the points, we would have done it. We are not proud of our 2004 performance.
“Equally if we are out of the top four, under the regulations we are entitled to run a car and we feel comfortable doing it.”
