25/09/2004
NEWS STORY
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The big surprise this morning has to have been Jordan's Nick Heidfeld, who put the yellow car sixth on the timesheets. No disrespect to Nick or his employers, but this appears to suggest that the car was running on fumes.
Mercedes' Norbert Haug, a man who knows hyperbole when he sees it, has described this weekend's race as the most important in motorsport history, therefore who would blame Jordan for running its cars a little light in an attempt to get at least one of them as near the front of the grid as possible.
Who cares, should the driver need to pit at the end of the second lap - a spot at the front of the grid would be a remarkable publicity coup by the Irish team at this time.
As Rubens Barrichello prepares to go out and get pre-qualifying underway, the air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature has risen to 41 degrees.
Monza winner Barrichello is first out, followed by teammate Michael Schumacher, then Jenson Button. The last three out will be Ralf Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve and Timo Glock.
At 13:00 precisely, the red Ferrari leaves its garage. The Brazilian begins his flying lap, completing the first sector in 24.4s. At the second split it's 27.5, followed by a 1:33.787 at the line.
Teammate Schumacher begins his lap, completing the first sector in 24.4, he's marginally up on the Brazilian. At the second split it's 27.6, as he loses a little pace. At the line it's 1:33.185, the German goes quickest by 0.602s. That's the fastest lap of the weekend, thus far.
Jenson Button completes the first sector in 24.8, he's already around 0.4s down on the German. At the second split, the Englishman posts 28.0s, followed by a 1:34.273s at the line. He's 1.088s down of the Ferrari, he'll be seriously disappointed.
Teammate Takuma Sato is next out, he forfeits ten grid spots as a result of yesterday's engine change. At the first split the Japanese driver posts 24.6, followed by a 28.0s at the second. At the line the BAR driver posts 1:34.051, which puts him ahead of Button.
Next out is Juan Pablo Montoya, who was impressive in the first session this morning. At the first split the Colombian posts 24.7, he's 0.3s down on Schumacher already. At the second split it's 27.9, the gap remains the same. At the line the WilliamsF1 driver clocks 1:34.016, which puts him third, behind the two Ferraris.
McLaren's David Coulthard is next out. At the first split the Scot posts 24.9, he's already lost half-a-second. At the second split it's 27.9, he's made up a little time. At the line it's 1:34.355, which puts him sixth. It was the first sector where he lost the most time.
The Saubers have been quick all weekend, first out in this session is Giancarlo Fisichella. At the first split the Italian posts 24.7, he's 0.3s down on Schumacher. At the second split it's 27.8, it's still looking good. At the line the 2003 Brazil GP winner posts 1:33.738, to take second, having gone quickest of all in the final sector. An amazing effort from 'Fisi'.
Mark Webber is next out, the Jaguar team could certainly do with a boost. At the first split the Australian posts 24.6, which is remarkably good, under the circumstances. At the second split it's 27.9, he's still in touch. At the line it's 1:34.334, which puts him seventh, ahead of Coulthard.
Ricardo Zonta is next out, in the Toyota. At the first split the Brazilian posts 24.9, like Coulthard he's already half-a-second down. At the second split it's 28.0s, he's made up a little. At the line he clocks 1:34.958, which puts him ninth, of nine.
Felipe Massa is next out, can he emulate Fisichella's achievement? At the first split the Brazilian posts 24.4, he's running at almost the same pace as Schumacher. At the second split it's 27.9, as he loses a little ground. At the line the Sauber star registers 1:33.816, which puts him fourth - having lost ground in the final sector.
Christian Klien is next out. At the first split the Austrian posts 25.1, that's the slowest so far. At the second split the Jaguar driver registers 28.4, again, the slowest thus far. At the line it's 1:35.447, which puts him eleventh.
This morning's sensation is next out, Nick Heidfeld. At the first split the German posts 24.8, he's around 0.4s down on Schumacher. At the second split it's 28.3, as he continues to lose ground. He crosses the line at 1:34.808, which puts him ahead of Zonta and Klien.
Zsolt Baumgartner is next out, the Minardi driver settling in quite well here. At the first split he posts 25.8, he's already 1.4s down on Schumacher. At the second split it's 29.0s, followed by 1:37.510 at the line. In all honesty, that's a pretty poor time.
Fernando Alonso is next out, the Renault's having a low-key weekend. At the first split the Spaniard posts 24.8, again, he's around 0.4s down on Schumacher. At the second split it's 28.2, as he continues to lose ground. He crosses the line at 1:34.599, which puts him tenth, behind both BARs, Webber and Coulthard.
Gianmaria Bruni is on track in the Minardi. At the first split the Italian posts 25.2, he's up on his teammate. At the second split it's 29.0s, as he loses a little time. At the line the former Euro3000 driver posts 1:36.623, which puts him fourteenth, ahead of Baumgartner.
Spa winner Kimi Raikkonen is next out. At the first split the Finn posts 24.7, he's 0.3s down on the Ferrari. He makes up a little time in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 1:33.499, which puts him second. He was quickest of all in the final sector, 0.2s quicker than Schumacher.
Olivier Panis, who crashed out at the second chicane at Monza, is next out. At the first split the Frenchman posts 24.8, he's up on his teammate. At the second split its 28.0s, followed by 1:34.153 at the line. The Toyota driver goes eighth.
After a six-race 'break', Ralf is back in action, what can he do? At the first split it's 24.6, he's down on his brother, but it's marginal. At the second split the gap remains the same. He finally crosses the line at 1:33.849, which puts him sixth, ahead of his teammate.
And now Jacque Villeneuve, in the Renault. At the first split the former world champion posts 25.1, he's around 0.3s down on his Spanish teammate. At the second split it's 28.0s, as he makes up ground. At the line the Canadian posts 1:34.425, which puts him thirteenth, but importantly ahead of Alonso.
Last out is Timo Glock, who is taking part in his second Grand Prix of the season. At the first split the German posts 25.2, around 0.4s slower than his teammate. At the second split it's 28.9, followed by a 1:37.143 at the line. He goes nineteenth, ahead of Baumgartner.
Therefore, at the end of pre-qualifying, the order is: Michael, Raikkonen, Fisichella, Barrichello, Massa, Ralf, Montoya, Sato, Panis and Button.
Webber is eleventh, ahead of Coulthard, Villeneuve, Alonso, Heidfeld, Zonta, Klien, Bruni, Glock and Baumgartner.
Massa was quickest through the main speed-trap (again), the Brazilian hitting 205.6 mph.
Ahead of the main qualifying session, the air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 42 degrees.
Certainly as the weekend progresses, the Bridgestone appear to have the advantage. Yesterday, Ferrari in particular had problems with 'graining', but it's now thought that this was due to the 'newness' of the track surface. Today, the Bridgestones appear to have the edge over their French rivals.
Zsolt Baumgartner is first out in the Minardi. At the first split the Hungarian posts 26.1, followed by a 30 at the second. It's a messy lap, and he's clearly pushing too hard. At the line it's 1:40.240, hopefully that's because he's carrying a heavy fuel load.
Next out is Timo Glock in the Jordan. At the first split the German posts 25.1, who is already a second up on Baumgartner. At the second split it's 28.9, the Bridgestone's clearly working well. At the line it's 1:37.140, provisional pole for Jordan.
Gianmaria Bruni is working furiously at the wheel of the Minardi, consequently he spins at the very start of his lap. Consequently, at the first split it's 36.8s, followed by a 33.8s at the second. The Italian, in addition to everything else, appears to have a gear selection problem. He aborts the lap, pulling off into the pitlane.
Christian Klien is next out. At the first split the Austrian posts 25.3, followed by a 28.7 at the second. It's a clean lap so far, and he appears destined to take provisional pole. At the line it's 1:36.535, the Austrian take provisional pole by 0.605s.
Last out before the first break is Ricardo Zonta in the Toyota. The Brazilian is quickest in the first sector, posting 25.1. He's quickest again in the second sector, breaking the beam at 28.1. At the line the former GT world champion, clocks 1:35.410, to take pole.
At the first break, it's Zonta ahead of Klien, Glock, Baumgartner and Bruni.
Next out is Nick Heidfeld, who was so quick this morning. The big question is, will he run really light and go for a spot at the front of the grid, or simply qualify 'as normal'? At the first split the German posts 25.2, he's already 0.1s down on Zonta. At the second split it's 28.8, he loses around 0.7s to the Brazilian. At the line it's 1:36.505, which puts him second.
Fernando Alonso is next out, Renault really does need to step up a notch this weekend if it is to take back second place from BAR. At the first split it's 25.0, the Spaniard is quickest so far. At the second split it's 28.0, as he maintains his pace. At the line Fernando posts 1:34.917, to take provisional pole by 0.493s.
Teammate Jacques Villeneuve is next, the Canadian keen to out-qualify the Spaniard. At the first split the Canadian posts 25.2, he's down on Alonso, but it's marginal. At the second split it's 28.4, as he continues to lose ground to the Spaniard. At the line it's 1:35.384, which puts him second.
David Coulthard is next out, the Scot still looking for a drive in 2005. At the first split it's 24.9, as the McLaren driver goes quickest. At the second split he posts 28.4, as he loses ground to Alonso. At the line the veteran clocks 1:35.029, which splits the two Renaults. A typical clean, unfussy lap from the Scot.
Last out before the second break is Mark Webber. Despite looking very messy, the Australian is actually quickest in the first sector, posting 24.8. He hits the kerb at turn seven hard, which costs him vital time, consequently he posts 28.4s at the second split. At the line it's 1:35.286, which puts the Jaguar driver third, ahead of Villeneuve.
Therefore, at the second break it's Alonso, ahead of Coulthard, Webber, Villeneuve, Zonta, Heidfeld, Klien, Glock, Baumgartner and Bruni.
Jenson Button is next out. The BAR has been looking good this weekend, and some are tipping the Englishman to take a surprise win. At the first split it's 24.9, he's definitely in touch with the pace setters. At the second split it's 28.0s as he goes quickest. At the line it's 1:34.295, provisional pole for the man currently running third in the championship. A great lap from Jenson.
Olivier Panis is next out. At the first split the French veteran posts 25.1, he's off the pace but it's marginal. The second sector is impressive too, he breaks the beam at 28.1. At the line it's 1:34.975, he goes third. A typical gritty performance from Olivier.
Takuma Sato is next out. At the first split the Japanese youngster posts 24.9, he's marginally up on Button. He loses ground in the second sector, posting 28.2 at the beam. At the line it's 1:34.993, which puts him fourth. However, he will lose ten grid spots as a result of that engine change yesterday.
Next up it's Juan Pablo Montoya. At the first split the Colombian posts 25s, he's down on Button. At the second split it's 28.4, as he loses a heap of time in the twisty section. At the line it's 1:35.245, a disappointing sixth for the WilliamsF1 driver
Last out before the final break is Ralf Schumacher. At the first split the German posts 25s, he's only marginally off the pace. At the second split it's 28.2, he's working hard. At the line the WilliamsF1 driver posts 1:34.891, to take second. A strong performance from the German, especially when you consider that this is his 'come back' after a six race lay off.
At the final break, the order is: Button, Ralf, Alonso, Panis, Sato, Coulthard, Montoya, Webber, Villeneuve and Zonta.
Four of the last five runners are on Bridgestones, the exception being Kimi Raikkonen in the McLaren.
Sauber's Felipe Massa is first out. At the first split the Brazilian posts 24.6, he's already 0.2s up on Button and quickest in that sector. He loses ground in the second sector, posting 28.3 at the beam. At the line he posts 1:34.759 to take second place on the grid.
Monza winner Rubens Barrichello is next out. The Brazilian locks up at the first corner, however he's still able to post 24.7. The second sector is inch-perfect, consequently he goes quickest, posting 27.7. At the line it's 1:34.012, provisional pole for Ferrari.
Giancarlo Fisichella is next out, can he produce something very special. At the first split the Italian posts 24.9, he's down on Barrichello, but still in touch with the front of the grid. At the second split it's 28.2, he's lost more ground. At the line the Sauber driver posts 1:34.951, which puts him sixth, behind Alonso.
Kimi Raikkonen is next out, waving the flag for Michelin. At the first split it's 24.9, he's 0.2s down on Barrichello. He's working hard, completing the second sector in 27.9s. At the line the McLaren driver posts 1:34.178, a tremendous effort from the Finn, who had a small slide as he came onto the final straight.
Last out is Michael Schumacher, who goes wide as he begins his flying lap. He continues but then spins, he simply went into the first corner too hasrd, a silly mistake. He opts to abort the lap which means the Ferraris will start the Chinese Grand Prix from first and last.
On the Ferrari pit wall they watch in stunned silence, nobody seems to understand what happened. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is grim-faced, despite the fact that one of his drivers is on pole.
In all honesty, it's a bit of an anti-climax, however at least we'll now get to see Michael stage a great come-back in tomorrow's race, much like he did at Monza.
Rubens takes pole position ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, with Jenson Button, Felipe Massa, Ralf Schumacher and Fernando Alonso right behind. In all honesty you couldn't have scripted this better.
As ever, Michael Schumacher grabs the headlines, but for all the wrong reasons. That said, tomorrow he has the opportunity to take centre stage once again.