Heikki Kovalainen is optimistic about the outlook for the Lotus team. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Kovalainen - Lotus Now Eyeing Established Teams: Lotus is almost ready to begin fighting with F1's established teams, according to Heikki Kovalainen. The Malaysian backed outfit has been the most impressive of the sport's three new entrants this year, particularly in the wake of a recent upgrade for the T127 car. And despite Kovalainen retiring in Monaco with a steering problem, the Finn thinks Lotus is getting ready to make its next step. "For a time I was able to drive at the same pace as the Renault of (Vitaly) Petrov," he is quoted by France's Auto Hebdo after the famous street race. "We showed in Monaco that we are clearly the best of the new teams and that we will soon be able to fight with the teams in front of us." Kovalainen ran the 14th-fastest race lap in Monaco, ahead of the Saubers and even Rubens Barrichello's Williams.

Gracia - Epsilon Has Better Chance With 'New' FIA: Epsilon Euskadi has a better chance of winning a spot on the Formula One grid now that Max Mosley has departed. That is the suggestion of Carlos Gracia, the head of Spain's Motor Racing Federation. He told the Marca sports newspaper that the Spanish outfit has the "best facilities" of the other hopefuls but still missed out on a 2010 debut to HRT, Virgin and Lotus. "When the old FIA granted the licenses to be in Formula One, it was done with haste and with not accurately assessing the infrastructure. I think and I hope that now it will be different," said Gracia, referring to the appointment of Jean Todt as the new FIA president. Damon Hill, the 1996 World Champion who acted as a steward in Monaco last weekend as part of a Todt initiative, also backs the sport's new regime. "I think we've come through a phase in Formula One history that has been quite turbulent," he told GP Week. "Now things seem to have settled down and we're focusing again on racing. That's the way it should be."

Teams To Discuss Spare Car Revival: Stefano Domenicali has raised the possibility that the ban on spare cars may be overturned. Fernando Alonso had to sit out qualifying for last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix because his chassis was written off in a practice crash. It meant he started the race from last place in the pitlane. The availability of complete spare cars was banned a few years ago as a cost-saving measure. Now, teams may transport spare monocoques to races and build up a new car in the event that one is damaged. But in Alonso's situation, there simply was not enough time. Ferrari team boss Domenicali said he agrees with cutting costs, but argues that in the case of banning spare cars, "you lose value in other ways. You cannot leave the spectators without the possibility of enjoying one of the biggest stars in qualifying," he is quoted by Spain's Diario AS newspaper. "We will discuss it with the other teams to see if we can change it (the rule)." Quoted by Italy's Tuttosport, Domenicali added: "Nothing has been decided, but I hope it happens soon."

Ferrari To Make F-duct Easier For Drivers: Ferrari might modify its F-duct system so that it is easier for the drivers to use. Team figures defended the ease of use and safety of its solution when it debuted in Barcelona, after video footage showed Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa using their hand to block the cockpit air inlet. McLaren's drivers block the air inlet with their knee. Maranello based Ferrari has already vowed to modify the system for Turkey, after analysis of its use in Spain showed that downforce was being shed even when the F-duct was not being activated. And Stefano Domenicali told Spain's AS newspaper: "We are working on different solutions that will be more comfortable for our drivers than the first version. We have not yet decided what will be the position (of the cockpit air inlet)."

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