Fernando, Giancarlo is always very quick here, it was a close race to the pole.
Fernando Alonso: Yes, it was. I think it has been a tough competition between us three - with Kimi and Giancarlo all weekend and now in qualifying. I think it is a good result for us, a normal result. We have been the three quickest drivers, always, and also in qualifying and hopefully tomorrow we can repeat the podium.

A great result for Michelin, too, on a track whose condition appeared to be changing constantly.
FA: Yeah, every lap it is better and better. More rubber is going down, more grip, but it’s the same for everybody so now in qualifying it’s always important to have your chance, your new tyres at the end of the session. I think we all did and the result has been perfect for us, first and second, and now we have to finish the job tomorrow.

Giancarlo, very close to the pole there, and you do love this place.
Giancarlo Fisichella: Yeah, I do, and I’m happy about the performance we achieved today, first and second for Renault is great and I’m happy about the second position. Hopefully we‘ve got a good strategy and even tomorrow we are in good shape to score lots of points, to get on the podium. Obviously the target is to win the race.

The track is evolving, how do you see the conditions tomorrow, how do you think the race will go?
GF: Well, today it was quite hot and it wasn’t too bad. I think tomorrow we are going to have the same conditions. Maybe at the beginning of the race the grip level is going to be a bit poor but then after the middle of the race it’s going to be alright.

Kimi, a great result for McLaren Mercedes, again consistently quick in qualifying. It looked like a good session for you.
Kimi Raikkonen: Yeah, but I think I was much happier with the car in the morning, so I was quite surprised to end up in third. Even the car didn’t feel very nice, but it was a good result and I think we should be pretty OK for the race.

Do you put that down to the changing conditions? A lot of drivers said the track went to oversteer?
KR: We changed the car a little bit for the race so hopefully it will be easier in the race and it will work out then, but we just need to wait and see.

You won here last year; how close can you get to the Renaults tomorrow?
KR: Hopefully closer than in the last race but they seem to be very quick here but I think we have been improving and the car is getting better, so hopefully we can fight against them.

Fernando, the second front row of the grid for the team this year. It just goes on and on. Talk a little about Renault’s performance in these two North American races.
FA: I think we have been really quick, really competitive in the first half of the season. For both Renaults to be on the first row in the ninth race means that the team keeps on developing the car and keeps working hard to win the championship again this year, so I’m really happy and I’m proud of the job the team’s doing. I think these two races will be difficult for us. Ferrari are our main opponent for the championship. We know that these are good circuits for them, high speed and low downforce, but at the first one we are doing our maximum. Since that is working OK, Indianapolis will also be OK.

Press Conference

Fernando, fifth successive pole, it’s pretty remarkable isn’t it?
FA: Yeah. To be honest, it’s been really good. At the beginning of the season, I had a couple of problems with this new format of qualifying and from Imola, I think I’ve always been on pole and I’ve been really quick, really happy with the results in qualifying and also in the race but especially in qualifying. Fifth consecutive time on pole is something that I’ve never experienced before and it’s great, so let’s keep going.

And this is a race where you really want to do well. It’s one of the races that’s been missing off the portfolio as it were. Any scares during the first two days?
FA: No, not at all. I think it has been really good for us so far. No problems with the car, we didn’t touch the set-up with the car or anything. The car was quick straightaway in all conditions. The track kept changing with more and more grip but the balance was always perfect so no worries for tomorrow at all.

You sound as though you expect Ferrari to be more competitive in the race.
FA: Yeah, I think so. I think Ferrari will be competitive here and at Indianapolis as well. Yesterday they were not too quick. Today they were much better, so maybe tomorrow, with more rubber down, they keep going better and better, but hopefully not enough to win and if we finish in front of them it will be a great result.

Giancarlo, how much have you changed the car during the last couple of days?
GF: A bit with the front bar and the front wing. Even the last change was just before my last flying lap. We put some more front wing on because there was a bit of understeer. The balance was not too bad. It’s just difficult in braking with poor grip but apart from that we are first and second so it’s just great for us.