"I was pushing to the maximum all race, and fighting really hard as always," Trulli reported, "It wasn't easy but, after I passed Fernando at the start, I knew we had a chance, so I never gave up and really pushed every lap.
"I had to be strong to stay ahead because we were fighting with cars which were a little bit quicker than us. It was very exciting at the end of the race, battling with Heikki. We had some rain and it is harder to be in front in these conditions because you don't know exactly what to expect at each corner - it is easier to follow. Heikki was very close to me and putting me under a lot of pressure, but I was determined not to lose position.
"With two laps left, he pulled alongside, but I was strong and didn't give up. I took the inside line, so we went wheel to wheel. I didn't want to lose that position because I could see the podium getting close. We didn't touch because I gave him just enough room - it was like racing karts, and I didn't expect to have the chance to race like that in F1!
"It was a fun fight, and even better for me because I was able to keep position. It was tough, but I was determined to get a great result, especially at this race because of what happened to Ove Andersson. We wanted to pay tribute to him because he did so much for this team. It was a shame he couldn't see such a great result, but it was fantastic to dedicate my third place to him."
Asked whether the upturn in
Toyota's fortunes was purely down to improvements made to the car over its 2007 predecessor, Trulli admitted that he liked to think that he was also playing a part in the team's revival. The Italian now shares seventh place in the drivers' table with
Mark Webber, while Toyota lies just a point shy of fourth places in the teams' championship.
"This year, we are much more competitive," he acknowledged, "The car seems more balanced and I am able to push more because it is very drivable. Quite simply, the car is quicker than last year, and that means we are more competitive.
