Sunday March 12th, 2000

Mika Salo was excluded from Sunday's Australian Formula One Grand Prix results after technical delegates said his Sauber breached the sport's regulations.

The Finnish driver crossed the line in sixth position to earn a point for his team but race officials later announced he had been disqualified because of a problem with the car's bodywork.

In a statement, the stewards said the front wing of Salo's Sauber was illegal - there was an infringement of 2 centimeters. The stewards said Sauber would be allowed to appeal the decision if he wished., but team chief Peter Sauber later said that the problem was down to human error and that there was no point in protesting.

Salo's exclusion will lift Brazilian Ricardo Zonta to sixth, giving the BAR driver his first Formula One point.