Webber delights in debut points

Stoddart and Webber celebrate fifth place

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Mark Webber has hailed as "unbelievable" his fifth place on his Grand Prix debut with the unfancied Minardi team.

The Australian was able to finish in the points thanks to the high attrition rate and the first-corner accident, in which eight cars were forced to retire.

Webber, who had qualified 18th ahead of both Jaguars, held on to his two points despite a late challenge from Mika Salo, who gave the new Toyota team a point on their debut.

"I feel like I've won the race, it's fantastic for the team," said Webber, who was called up to the podium to soak up the adulation of the Melbourne crowd.

There is not going to be 11 or 12 cars out at the start of every race

Eddie Irvine

"It's been a phenomenal day. It doesn't get any better than this. I just don't want to wake up in the morning and find it hasn't happened."

Webber paid tribute to Minardi boss Paul Stoddart, who bought the team at the start of last season and has shown faith in Webber to give him his Formula One break.

Webber said: "What a day - it's unbelievable! I have a lot to thank [team boss] Paul Stoddart for. He's done so much to get this team going."

Webber's performance is already a big step forward over last year for Minardi, who were last in the world championship in 2001, with no points.

Stoddart, who bought the team last year, said: "This means everything. It doesn't get any better than this. It's been a long, hard road but my God, I'm proud! Mark has really showed my faith in him is justified.

"We already achieved our entire job for this year in one race.

'Work to be done'

"We wanted two points and top 10 in the constructors' championship. And we can only improve from here.

"Now the challenge is to pick up a few more points throughout the season."

Jaguar also benefited from the high number of retirements, with Eddie Irvine taking an unexpected fourth place.

Jaguar had a disastrous qualifying session, with Irvine and team-mate Pedro de la Rosa qualifying 19th and 20th.

But Irvine was under no illusions about the task lying ahead of Jaguar as they attempt to improve the car's performance.

"I couldn't believe I was fifth going into the first corner - that kind of thing was our only hope," Irvine said.

"But there is not going to be 11 or 12 cars out at the start of every race. This is a nice three points for the start of the season, but everyone knows how they came. There is a lot of work to be done."