Dan Clarke qualified 10th for the Champ Car Grand Prix of Holland – but couldn’t have been happier if he’d ended up on pole.
The Minardi driver was suspended for the previous race, in Belgium, and had to wait for a decision from series bosses as to whether to allow him back in the driver’s seat for the second European race.
He said: “After the week that just gone by, I feel like a new man. We qualified in the top 10, and I know there’s more time in the car, so I’m feeling positive.
“My Minardi Team USA car often seems to go better in the race than in qualifying, so we’ll get our heads down now and work on strategy for tomorrow.
“I’ll then aim to keep my nose clean and have a strong race – the reception from the fans here in Assen has been great, and it almost feels like a home event for me.”