Q: How do you feel about your first pole of the season, here at Indianapolis?
Rubens Barrichello: It feels nice to be here, I think it's a wonderful time. There are loads of Brazilians out there and I had quite a positive run, just going out, it was nice. I could almost hear them shouting.

Q: You were very very quick this morning and quick yesterday of course; how's the weekend progressed for you and how do you feel about the race?
RB: I think the car has been good all the time. We made some progress since yesterday, but I think Michael has made progress even so, so we were very close together this morning. Just before pre-qualifying, we made a small change to the car and it became a bit better. In qualifying, I think it was difficult for everyone because the wind was picking up and it was quite difficult driving on the qualifying lap. I didn't have much of a reference (point) because as you go out last you're just trying to do your best, but it was just an easy lap, trying not to make a mistake, on the limit and finally my first pole of the season.

Q: Michael, you spoke yesterday of having a reasonably difficult day and, of course, you were not out when the track was quickest in qualifying. You must be very pleased to be P2.
Michael Schumacher: In a way, yes, I'm pleased we're both on the front row. Naturally I would have preferred the other position but Rubens did a better job so that's where we are.

Q: What were your thoughts as you were waiting for Rubens to go out? Did you think he had a realistic chance of beating you?
MS: I think he had, yeah, because I struggled in the mid sector. I had to fight far too much oversteer in there and I lost reasonable time and there was obviously the doubt that I would keep that position. Actually I was expecting to drop further back.

Q: Takuma, that's your third top three qualifying position of the year and here you are, right next to the two Ferrari drivers at Indianapolis. Surely it doesn't get any better than that.
Takuma Sato: I think it's a great result today, for the team as well. I lost yesterday's practice session so I'm really pleased, myself, to get back on the pace and also the team has done a fantastic job so far and it's resulted in the second row and that's a really good result.

Q: Do you think you can take the race tomorrow to the Ferrari drivers?
TS: They are always very strong in the race, race pace, but I think we've improved our consistency in long runs so we are pretty much hoping we can get closer. That's what we'll have to do tomorrow afternoon.

Q: Rubens, you pushed Michael very hard in the Canadian Grand Prix, we saw you racing closer there. Ferrari are on record as saying they are looking forward to seeing you racing, what are your thoughts tomorrow about the fight with Michael?
RB: You know, being in front, I hope that he doesn't get as close as I got to him in Canada, but it's always a nice fight. As I said, I have no problems with Michael, I'm always proud to be racing against him. If I've won the pole today, I've won it against the best so I think it's just a positive side. I'm starting in a good place tomorrow, there's going to be a lot of people cheering us on tomorrow, especially the Brazilians, so just a good night's sleep and off I go, trying to win tomorrow.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Q: Your tenth pole position, you've been quick all weekend; what is it about you and Indianapolis?
RB: It is just a fact that I think I am on a high. I finished quite well in Canada even though the results didn't go… I was expecting a little bit better. But it is definitely a high.

Q: Now you mentioned how the wind changes. How does the wind affect the car and where in particular?
RB: When I started my lap and went onto the banking it was very gusty and the car was moving around a little bit more and so in a way you just want to be precise more than be ultimately fast because you can quite easily make a mistake in those sort of circumstances. Even though the car was behaving quite well and so it was nice to get it done.

Q: In a way your first sector was slightly slower and you picked up the lap as you went through the sectors.
RB: Yeah, I don't know if it was preparing the tyres or anything like that but my car didn't feel as good on the first sector but it did feel quite good from there onwards, so because the midfield is probably the longest one it was good to set a good time there.

Q: Michael, you were very quick on the first sector and if anything it just sort of eased away from you later on.
MS: No, not really, it went away in the second sector though I think I was even quickest in the last sector. I just slid it around too much, just couldn't keep it on track properly in line. There were a couple of corners where I particularly lost time against Rubens and he just found a better way to deal with it.

Q: Have you been happy with the car's performance here this weekend?
MS: I mean, we are on the front row. I am fighting against Rubens, who has had a fantastic weekend, he has been very strong all weekend long, and that is the way it is, that's the way we push each other.