11.   What Japanese drivers have lacked, many racing professionals say, is the European experience of racing, language and culture from an early age.

12.   Although the United States complains that the Japanese market unfairly shuts out foreign competition, Japan says U.S. automakers produce the wrong kinds of cars for Japanese drivers.

13.   Another Japanese driver Keiichi Tsuchiya, driving a Ford Thunderbird for the Nippon Challenge, said he has never seen or experienced the real NASCAR race before.

14.   At the request of the Jordan team, stewards gave the Japanese driver the green light to start Sunday from the back of the grid.

15.   Despite their results, the Japanese drivers said they had a great time.

16.   European brands, which are considered more stylish and high-status by Japanese drivers, are holding steady with their sports car sales.

17.   Hill said he did nothing wrong and suggested the accident was caused by reckless driving by Japanese driver Taki Inoue and some unexpected braking by Schumacher.

18.   Hill denied it was a deliberate incident and blamed lapped Japanese driver Taki Inoue for the mishap.

19.   It was a bizarre ending to a race filled with incidents and a terrifying crash involving rookie Japanese driver Takuma Sato, who was not seriously injured.

20.   Japanese driver Kenjiro Shinozuka, also in a Mitsubishi, held a comfortable third place.