*Prost looking Trulli good for home grand prix*

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The Prost Grand Prix announced today that Italian driver Jarno
Trulli would take over for injured Olivier Panis in Sunday's
French Grand Prix and remain with the team until the Frenchman
is able to return. 

The Prost team, headed by four-time Formula One champion Alain
Prost and based in Magny-Cours -- site of the French Grand Prix,
had taken Trulli on loan from the Minirdi team for testing at
the Magny-Cours track in preparation for the eighth round of the
Formula One championship. 

"I would like to thank Gian Carlo Minardi for having accepted to
free Jarno for the French Grand Prix onwards," Prost said.
"During his testing with us last Wednesday and Thursday, he
showed that he combines speed and consistency.  He also proved
extremely quick to adapt to both the car and the team, and his
feedback allowed us to make precious progress in the development
program of the JS45 (car model) despite the absence of Olivier."

"It's a great opportunity for Jarno, which confirms the Minardi
Team as an excellent springboard for young, talented drivers,"
Minardi said. 

Panis, who has clearly emerged as a top driver, broke both of
his legs in a crash at the Canadian Grand Prix on June 15th. His
timetable for recovery has not been announced. 

Trulli made his debut in Formula One this year after winning the
1996 German Formula Three championship.  Trulli has a tremendous
history in karting, winning eight series championships and three
international cups in his career. 

"I am very happy to be driving for Prost Grand Prix, and I am
proud to be working with a team which has a real chance of
finishing in the points every weekend," said the 22-year-old
Francavilla, Italy native.  "It's just a shame that I owe this
opportunity to the accident of a fellow driver.  I will
certainly have a special thought for Olivier as I line up on the
grid on Sunday." 

Trulli was one of several drivers rumored to be under
consideration for the seat.  Prost test driver Emmanuel Collard
of France, Britain's Martin Brundle, Williams test driver
Jean-Christophe Bouillon of France, and Brazilian Ricardo Rosset
and Italian Vincenzo Sospiri -- both of the defunct Lola grand
prix effort -- were speculated as possible replacements for
Panis. 

"Choosing someone in such urgent circumstances to take over from
your leading driver in the middle of the season is a big
responsibility," Prost said. "Selecting somebody that was
immediately operational, especially in terms of physical
fitness, was clearly a key consideration.  We thought long and
hard about the possibility of Emmanuel Collard taking over from
Olivier.  However, in Emmanuel's current physical condition,
this would have been a premature decision and we decided,
mutually, not to take the risk." 

The decision to take on Trulli gives him the inside track to
take over the seat next to Panis next season -- when the team is
certain to jettison Japanese driver Shinji Nakano.  Nakano came
to the team as part of its Mugen Honda engine supply agreement,
and Prost has reportedly been dissatisfied with Nakano.  Peugeot
will supply engines to Prost next season. 

Former Formula One champion Damon Hill of Britain, a one-time
teammate of Prost at Williams, was speculated to have the inside
track for the seat next to Panis next year.  Frenchman Jean
Alesi, never on stable ground in his career with Benetton, was
also among those rumored to be high on The Professor's list of
driving candidates. 

Brazilian Tarso Marques, the Minardi test driver, will step into
Trulli's seat but there has been no confirmation by the team
yet.  Minardi is one of two teams in the 17-event series not to
earn a point this season, along with the Arrows team where Hill
now plys his trade. 

"We are now very excited to start a new challenge with Tarso
Marques," Minardi said.  "I'm positive he will prove to be
another winning bet." 

Another injured driver, Gianni Morbidelli of Italy, will be
replaced at Sauber by Argentine Norberto Fontana.