Ahead of the first part of today's qualifying session, the ambient temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 35 degrees. There are a few clouds, but it's unlikely to rain.

As ever, the drivers will go out in the order they finished the previous, therefore, not for the first time, Michael Schumacher will take to the track first, followed by teammate Rubens Barrichello.

At 13:00 precisely, Schumacher heads off down the pitlane. At the first split the German posts 23.6, followed by a 25.7 at the second. At the line the World Champion posts 1:13.541, a staggering time, the first time anyone has been in the 1:13s this weekend.

Ferrari don't have reason to celebrate though, Barrichello fails to leave his garage and therefore forfeit his run, instead Sato is next out.

As the Ferrari mechanics swarm over Barrichello's Ferrari, Sato begins his flying lap. At the first split the BAR star posts 23.9, followed by a 26s at the second. At the line it's 1:14.130, a good effort, but 0.589s down on Schumacher.

Jarno Trulli is next out, the Renault's looking good, but that lap of Schumacher's was a stunner. The Italian completes the first sector in 23.9, he's already 0.3s down on the German. At the second split it's 25.6, he's faster than Schumacher in that sector. At the line it's 1:13.949, he goes second as the pace well and truly hots up.

Next out is Olivier Panis, the Toyotas have been looking good this weekend. At the first split the Frenchman posts a disappointing 24.3, followed by a 25.7 at the second. The F1 veteran crosses the line at 1:14.540, exactly 0.999s off Schumacher's time.

All eyes on the MP4-19B of Kimi Raikkonen, this morning's pace-setter. At the first split the Finn posts 23.8s, he's down on Michael, but it's marginal. At the second split it's 25.8, it's still neck-and-neck. At the line the McLaren star posts 1:13.736, to go second, 0.195s off the pace.

David Coulthard is next out in the second MP4-19B. At the first split the Scot posts 23.9, followed by a 25.6 at the second. DC pushes hard, finally crossing the line at 1:13.649, to go second, leap-frogging his teammate.

Indy hero Zsolt Baumgartner is next out, the last of the US GP point scorers. At the first split the Minardi driver posts 25.1, not too bad, considering. At the second split it's 27.1s, followed by a 1:18.108 at the line.

Sauber's Giancarlo Fisichella is next out, he went off this morning. At the first split the Italian posts 24.4, followed by a 26.6s at the second. At the line 'Fisi' posts a disappointing 1:15.793, which puts him seventh.

All eyes on Mark Webber, who some are predicting could be in a WilliamsF1 in the near future. At the first split the Australian posts 24.2, followed by a 26.4 at the second. At the line the Jaguar driver posts 1:15.332, which puts him ahead of Fisichella.

Nick Heidfeld is next out, we hear that Eddie Jordan is offering the German to WilliamsF1 as replacement for Ralf.. for a price. At the first split the former F3000 champion posts 24.4, which he follows with a 26.7s at the second split. At the line it's 1:16.366, he splits Fisichella and Baumgartner.