|
2005 USA GP
Team Quotes - Saturday 18 June
Jean Todt: Strategy, reliability, consistent performance from the tyres – these will be, as usual in fact, the decisive factors in tomorrow's race. If we can operate at a maximum level for all these elements, then I am sure we can aspire to a good result. Now, we just have to see if we can attain this objective.
Ross Brawn: We are reasonably happy with qualifying, Once again, we know we don't quite have the performance level over a single lap, but the Bridgestone tyres were very consistent in this morning's practice, so we can look forward to a good race. We just have to hope our drivers don't get stuck behind anyone at the start, because if Kimi makes a break at the front and we are trapped, it could be difficult. We can have a strong race and we have a good strategy for tomorrow.
Lucky Strike BAR Honda's Jenson Button will start tomorrow's United States Grand Prix from the second row of the grid after posting the 3rd fastest lap in this afternoon's qualifying session. Takuma Sato ended the session 8th, despite a big set-up change after this morning's practice, and he will line up in a fourth-row grid slot for the start of the 73-lap race.
Free practice running today was rather unusual as the Michelin-teams modified their programmes according to the advice of the tyre manufacturer after their overnight analysis of yesterday's tyre problems. BAR Honda will continue to assist Michelin in their investigations and welcome their guidance to ensure the best possible outcome for tomorrow's race.
Gil de Ferran: "We had quite a productive day. We made several changes overnight and ran the two cars very differently this morning, and the outcome was that the preferred set-up was the one we ran on Jenson's car. Taku did a good job in qualifying on an unfamiliar car, as did Jenson to qualify third. We finish today reasonably satisfied and positive about our chances tomorrow. With regards to the tyre situation for tomorrow, we await Michelin's decision and have confidence in their judgement."
Shuhei Nakamoto: "We had a better day today with both drivers doing a good job in the qualifying session. It is important that we turn our pace into points this weekend."
The Mild Seven Renault F1 Team overcame the disadvantage of early qualifying slots to score a strong result in qualifying ahead of tomorrow's US Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Giancarlo Fisichella, fourth car to run in the session, drove an impressive lap to claim fourth position on the grid, while Fernando Alonso will line up sixth, having finished the session just nine hundredths of a second behind his team-mate on a very tight grid.
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: The disadvantage of our early qualifying slots did not prove to be too great at this circuit, and both drivers completed quick, clean laps. We had time overnight and this morning to work on the balance of the cars, and the drivers and engineers have done a good job in making an enormous improvement to both driveability and performance. We are confident that our grid positions can give us a good platform for the race, and if all things stay normal, we will be aiming for a strong finish.
Denis Chevrier, Head of Engine Operations: The grid is extremely close, with very small gaps between most of the drivers – and then two cars well in front of them on the front row, which may be explained by a different approach to race strategy. Our drivers put in very similar, competitive performances and we are in a strong position to challenge at the front of the field, starting from the second and third rows. We will be hoping to make up positions at the start, and our car seems to be set up for consistent performance throughout the race, both in terms of lap-time and straight-line speed.
Following yesterday's tyre-related incidents in free practice, the Michelin-shod teams contested today's qualifying session under guidance from the French tyre manufacturer, even though the problem wasn't one which had affected the BMW WilliamsF1 Team. Nick Heidfeld and Mark Webber qualified 9th and 15th respectively for tomorrow's US GP.
Sam Michael (Technical Director, WilliamsF1): It was a disappointing qualifying session for us, at least on the face of it. However th practice session long runs were good so we'll see tomorrow. We had to make a lot of adjustments to cope with the higher tyre pressure, now stipulated by Michelin. But this is the same for all the Michelin running teams. So far our car didn't experience any tyre faults. Now we look forward to our strategy tomorrow, when we will see where everybody is. It will be an interesting race tomorrow.
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): As in previous years, Indianapolis does not seem to be a good place for our team again. Our qualifying performance was in accordance to what we have seen in free practice already. We are not able to run at the front here. Now both our drivers need to concentrate on a flawless performance in the race in order to make it into the points. One week ago we proved that this is possible.
West McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen qualified on the front row for tomorrow's USA Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after setting a time of 1.10.694 which was only 0.069 of a second from pole position. Team mate Juan Pablo Montoya's time of 1:11.681 puts him 11th. As a result of his disqualification from the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend, the Colombian had to start second in today's qualifying session.
Ron Dennis: "Taking into account our race strategy, the grid positions are very good. Kimi's qualifying lap was tremendous and Juan Pablo also did an excellent job considering his strategy and the fact that he was out second for his qualifying run. A front row position and taking into account our starting performances so far this year Kimi should have a good opportunity to fight for the victory. With our Partner Michelin we are awaiting the final result of the detailed investigation that is being finalised at their research facilities. We along with the other Michelin teams will then decide the appropriate way forward for the race."
Norbert Haug: "Kimi's front row grid position is a perfect basis for the race. With 69 thousands of a second behind pole his qualifying lap was impressive, and he is starting the fifth time in the last six races from the front row. Our strategy should also help Juan Pablo to perform well. He obviously suffered from being second out in comparatively bad track conditions. But first of all we need to clarify the tyre situation together with our partner Michelin."
Sauber drivers Felipe Massa and Jacques Villeneuve will start tomorrow's United States Grand Prix from 10th and 12th positions respectively after this afternoon's qualifying session.
Willy Rampf (Technical Director): "Overall we are happy with our qualifying results, particularly when you look at just how close the times are here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Both drivers have strong starting positions."
After today's qualifying session, David Coulthard and Christian Klien will line up sixteenth and fourteenth respectively on tomorrow's grid, for the start of the United States Grand Prix.
Christian Horner, Sporting Director: We were hoping for more from this qualifying session than fourteenth and sixteenth, but we've got a decent race strategy and I'm sure that we'll make up places tomorrow in the race. Christian drove a pretty clean lap and David was pushing as hard as possible, but had a moment that cost him a bit of time. But, we've scored points from these qualifying positions before and that's what we'll be looking to do tomorrow.
Panasonic Toyota Racing's Jarno Trulli produced an outstanding performance to take the team's first ever pole position for tomorrow's US Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Trulli made no mistakes on his way to the front of the grid, giving the team something to celebrate after a difficult weekend. Ricardo Zonta put in another impressive performance under trying circumstances to qualify in 13th place. Zonta was driving as a replacement for Ralf Schumacher, who will play no further part in the weekend following a decision from the FIA's medical team in the wake of his accident yesterday. That accident, along with another suffered on Friday by Zonta himself, meant that the team missed out on much of this morning's practice sessions while it awaited assurances from tyre partner Michelin. Under the circumstances, the qualifying laps produced by the two drivers were even more impressive. The team will now head into Sunday's race confident of keeping its position of joint third in the con!
structors' championship.
Jarno Trulli put in a storming lap to take pole position for tomorrow's US Grand Prix, the first in Toyota's F1 history. The result came despite having his weekend of practice disrupted by the accidents involving his team-mates yesterday.
Ricardo Zonta only found out he would be driving after he arrived at the circuit this morning, meaning he also had the disadvantage of going out first. But he produced an impressive performance in the most trying circumstances to take 13th on the grid for tomorrow's race.
Today's qualifying performance comes as the best news Toyota could have had after the team endured the most difficult of starts to the US Grand Prix weekend.
Dieter Gass – Chief Race Engineer: "It's great for Jarno to get our first ever pole position, and we're all very happy with that. He did another very good lap, as we've grown used to seeing from him in qualifying this year, and he just managed to edge out Raikkonen. For Ricardo it was obviously a lot more difficult being the first car out and we saw big differences between the cars in other teams which had an early car and a late car. But he still did a good job to gain some places. Now we must see what happens concerning the tyres for tomorrow. Everyone knows about the problems that we and Michelin have had here. Now we must wait for information from Michelin about the race situation tomorrow. There's talk of bringing another tyre out to Indianapolis, but we need to wait for a decision."
In the last two Free Practice sessions, Narain Karthikeyan and Tiago Monteiro continued their preparations for the afternoon qualifying and Sunday's race and set reasonable times, having found a better chassis balance for their cars. In qualifying, Karthikeyan was the third driver to start, and did a good job to qualify in 19th position with a time of 1.13.776. Monteiro made the most of a cleaner track and will start tomorrow's 73-lap race in 17th place. The team will now head into Sunday's Grand Prix with the intention of getting both cars to the chequered flag as it bids to maintain the good reliability record of this season.
Adrian Burgess: Tiago had a clear and clean circuit and managed to set a reasonable time. Narain did a good job in the first and third sector but was a bit over-cautious in the middle. Overall we are looking good compared to our immediate competition and we are happy with our knowledge for the race tomorrow.
On a day beset with tyre-related issues, Minardi F1 Team drivers Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher produced useful qualifying performances for tomorrow's sixth running of the United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Albers set the 18th fastest time, and Friesacher, the 20th, although the final starting positions for both men will ultimately be determined by the outcome of discussions that will take place later this afternoon concerning the developing tyre situation. During the final two official practice sessions of the weekend, the Faenza squad continued its normal preparations for Sunday's race, Albers and Friesacher spending the morning working with their engineers on further adjustments to chassis set-up in order to cope with the demands of both this afternoon's qualifying session and tomorrow's race.
Paul Stoddart, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth: Both Minardi drivers performed well all day, allowing us to trade lap times with our nearest competitor, Jordan. Indeed, that is how qualifying ended up, with both teams on pretty much an equal footing. We now look forward to tomorrow's race, which could be very interesting indeed, pending discussions on tyre issues.
Bridgestone equipped Michael Schumacher will start tomorrow's 73-lap USA Grand Prix from the third row of the grid after qualifying in fifth place in this afternoon's qualifying session. Teammate Rubens Barrichello will line up on the fourth row after qualifying seventh. The Bridgestone runners all used the morning's two 45-minute practice sessions to fine tune their car set-ups, with the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro pair setting the second and third fastest times in the earlier session and fourth and tenth fastest times in the latter of the sessions. Only eight drivers, including all six Bridgestone runners, set a time in the earlier practice session. Track conditions meanwhile at the Indianapolis circuit are improving as more rubber is laid down.
Hisao Suganuma, Technical Manager of Bridgestone Motorsport: The Bridgestone tyres have been performing well here which is what we expected. Michael starts tomorrow from the third row and Rubens from the fourth row and I anticipate that they will both have a strong race. The characteristics of our tyres here should assist them with their race strategy tomorrow. Likewise we expect the Jordan and Minardi drivers to be fighting hard in the race. So far we have had a problem-free weekend but we are working hard with our teams to ensure all the necessary checks are carried out on our tyres ahead of tomorrow's race.
Ross Brawn, Technical Director of Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: We're reasonably happy with qualifying. Even though we haven't quite got the first lap, the tyres seemed very consistent this morning so I just hope we don't get stuck behind anyone at the start because if Kimi makes a break for it and we're stuck behind someone it might be difficult. But I think we have a good consistent race tyre and a good strategy. We're looking forward to the race tomorrow.
Jarno Trulli will lead the field away in tomorrow's United States Grand Prix after securing the third pole position of his Formula One career – and a first for Panasonic Toyota Racing. The Italian also maintained Michelin's unbroken run of nine F1 poles this season. He lapped the 4.192- kilometre (2.605-mile) track in 1m 10.625s – the fastest time of the weekend so far – to pip Canadian GP winner Kimi Raikkonen by just 0.069s.
Jenson Button and Giancarlo Fisichella completed a Michelin clean sweep of the top four with as many different chassis. World championship leader Fernando Alonso was quickest of the remaining Michelin runners, ahead of Takuma Sato, Mark Webber, Felipe Massa, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jacques Villeneuve, Ricardo Zonta, Christian Klien, Nick Heidfeld and David Coulthard.
Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin motorsport director: "In terms of pure performance, it is clear that our tyres are well suited to the Indianapolis circuit and it is very gratifying to see four different Michelin chassis filling the first two rows of the grid.
"Following yesterday's incidents, however, we still have work to complete before the start of the race, for the reasons outlined below. Whatever happens, I can assure you that like the other participants in motorsport Michelin will always propose a product respecting the needs of total security and independent of any rules."
Nick Shorrock, Director of Michelin F1 activities: "As previously explained we are still continuing our investigations into yesterday's tyre incidents. This consists of full examinations of all the tyres that ran on Friday and those from Saturday morning's free practice sessions. In addition we are continuing to work at our research centres in Clermont-Ferrand and Greenville, South Carolina. As yet we have not been able to understand the reason leading to yesterday's sudden tyre-pressure drop on two Toyotas.
"Using the latest data available we continue to direct our teams in the usage of our products so that drivers could participate safely in today's free practice and qualification sessions.
"During the build-up to the United States Grand Prix, engineers at our research centres will continue to focus on the product we ran today to decide if we will be able to use this specification safely in tomorrow's race."
|
