from www.itv-f1.com
Gascoyne suspended says Toyota
Wednesday, 05, April, 2006, 10:25
Toyota has formally suspended its technical director Mike
Gascoyne, a team spokesman confirmed to ITV-F1.com.
Due to a fundamental difference of opinion with regard to the
technical operations of its Formula 1 team, Toyota Motorsport has
suspended its Technical Director Chassis, Mike Gascoyne, until
further notice, said a team statement.
Toyota Motorsport will not make any additional comments on this
matter at this time.
News of Gascoynes departure from Toyota broke on Tuesday
afternoon.
The team had endured a difficult start to the season, with Ralf
Schumacher and Jarno Trulli stuck in the midfield in Bahrain.
But it appeared that Toyota had already turned the corner, with
Schumacher finishing a competitive third in Melbourne.
Gascoyne joined Toyota from Renault at the end of 2003.
Many held him responsible for the progress that Toyota has made in
recent seasons, particularly last year, when the big budget squad
scored its first podium finishes and leapt from eighth to fourth in
the constructors championship.
His efforts with Jordan and Renault in recent years earned Gascoyne
a reputation as a man who could turn around the fortunes of
struggling teams.
He has never seen a project through to world championship winning
success, however.
It is understood that tensions had grown between Gascoyne and
Toyotas senior management, and that he was unlikely to renew his
contract when it expired at the end of 2006.
Toyota has given no indication as to the identity of Gascoynes
replacement.