05/03/2005
NEWS STORY
 |
Ahead of the first of this weekend's two qualifying sessions, the air temperature is 15 degrees C, while the track temperature is 18 degrees C.
Thankfully the rain has stopped however the track is still very wet.
First out today will be Christijan Albers, followed by fellow rookies Patrick Friesacher, Narain Karthikeyan and Tiago Monteiro. Last out will be Brazil GP winner Juan Pablo Montoya.
At 14:00 precisely Christijan leaves the Minardi garage, to begin his 'out' lap. As he laps the Albert Park track his car throws up a lot of water, it's very, very damp.
The car's all over the place, very much out of shape under braking for the first corner. At the first split it's 37.019, the Dutchman simply happy to keep his car on the 'black stuff'. At the second split it's 1:05.278, followed by a 1:49.230 at the line. A good performance given the conditions and his limited running this weekend.
Teammate Friesacher is next out. At the first split the Austrian posts 37.649, he's down on Albers. He's really fighting the car, as he completes the second sector in 1:06.084. At the line it's 1:50.864, he's 1.6s down on Albers.
India's hopes rest on the next man Narain Karthikeyan. At the first split the Jordan driver posts 35.009, he's 2s up on Albers. The car looks awful, really nervous, as he completes the second sector in 1:02.347. He stops the clock at 1:44.357, almost 5s faster than Albers.
Monteiro is the last of the rookies to run. At the first split it's 36.612, he's already over 1s down on his Jordan teammate. At the second split it's 1:04.397, as he loses more time. A 1:46.846 sees him go second, 2.489s down on Karthikeyan.
Next out is Jenson button, who was the first retirement at Interlagos. This is not a good time to be going out. At the first split the Englishman posts 34.764, he's only 0.245s up on Karthikeyan. At the second split it's 1:00.879, he's now over a second up on the Indian. At the line it's 1:41.512, he's quickest by 2.845.
At the first break it's Button, Karthikeyan, Monteiro, Albers and Friesacher.
The sun is shining and the track is visibly drying, which will favour those drivers coming out last, Alonso, Barrichello, Raikkonen and Montoya.
Nick Heidfeld leaves the WilliamsF1 garage to begin his first qualifying session for the Grove outfit. He's really fighting the car, completing the first sector in 33.207, over 1.5s up on Button. At the second split it's 59.555, but he then goes wide running over the grass. At the line it's 1:39.717, he still quickest by 1.7s despite the 'off'.
Teammate Mark Webber is next out. At the first split the Australian posts 32.141, he's over a second up on his teammate. At the second split it's 58.118, he's now 1.4s up on the German. It's a strong, totally focussed performance that sees the WiliamsF1 driver go quickest with a 1:36.717, exactly 3s quicker than Heidfeld.
Webber's former teammate Christian Klien is on track in the Red Bull. At the first split it's 32.454, he's only 0.3s down on Webber. At the second split it's 58.383, he's still only around 0.2s off the pace. He crosses the line at 1:37.486, missing provisional pole by 0.769s.
Jarno Trulli is on track as conditions continue to improve. At the first split it's 31.710, he's up on Webber by 0.4s, clearly conditions are improving. At the second split it's 57.373, he's now 0.7s up on the Australian. A 1:35.270 sees him go quickest by 1.447.
David Coulthard is next out, the Scot having won her twice before. At the first split it's 32.767, he's over a second down on Trulli. At the second split the Red Bull driver posts 59.003, he's now 1.6s off the pace. He crosses the line at 1:38.320, over 3s off the pace. He complains of chronic oversteer.
At the second break it's Trulli ahead of Webber, Klien, Coulthard, Heidfeld, Button, Karthikeyan, Monteiro, Albers and Friesacher.
Jacques Villeneuve is on track, however he has an off on his out lap, though he's able to continue. He's the first driver to go out on dry tyres - hence the off. At the first split it's 32.308, he's half-a-second down on Trulli. At the second split the Canadian posts 58.772, he's now 1.4s off the pace. He finally crosses the line at 1:36.984, to go third. A brave gamble, but was it the right one?
Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella is next out, he too is on dry tyres. At the first split it's 31.260, he's quickest by 0.450s. At the second split it's 56.882, he's still 0.4s up on Trulli. At the line it's 1:33.171, he takes provisional pole by 2.09s.
As Felipe Massa begins his lap - on dry tyres - the heavens open up, and how. It's a heavy downpour which means that we're not going to see Giancarlo knocked off top spot.
As Massa trundles around, Michael Schumacher - who is next out - is on his out lap on intermediates. The German actually overtakes Massa who is gingerly splashing around the circuit.
At the first split Michael posts 40.191, he's 8.9s down on Trulli. He almost loses the back end of the car, but somehow keeps it under control. At the second split he's 17s down, as Sato - on his out lap - crashes out at Turn 8.
Back to Michael, and the German crosses the line at 1:57.931, which puts him thirteenth. He gets a standing ovation from his crew.
The session is red-flagged as Sato's car is recovered, the Japanese driver walks (forlornly) back to his garage. Massa meanwhile, who never posted a time, is credited with fourteenth position.
The rain stops and the sun emerges… another normal day in Melbourne.
The green light is on as Ralf Schumacher leaves the Toyota garage. The German begins his out lap as it starts to rain again, albeit it only on the far side of the circuit. At the first split it's 38.167, he's 6.9s off the pace. At the second split he's 10s down on Fisi, and be the time he crosses the line he's 18.324s off the pace, which puts him in thirteenth, ahead of his brother.
Next out is Fernando Alonso, who is not going to be able to make it an all Renault front row. It's 36.924s at the first split, followed by a 1:05.387 at the second. Under the circumstances it's a strong drive. At the line it's 1:47.708, which puts him eleventh, ahead of the Schumachers and the Minardis.
At the first split Rubens Barrichello posts 35.694s, which puts him just 4s off the pace. At the second split the Brazilian posts 1:03.180, which is still pretty good. At the line it's 1:45.481, which puts him tenth. A great performance.
Kimi Raikkonen is next out, as the luck of the draw goes against McLaren. At the first split it's 35.806, he's 4.5s off the pace. At the second split the Finn clocks 1:03.232, he's now 6.3s down. He's really struggling with the car, but nonetheless crosses the line at 1:44.997, to take tenth from Barrichello. Another strong performance.
Last out is Montoya, winner of the 2004 Brazil GP. At the first split the Colombian posts 36.741, he's 5.4s down on Fisichella. At the second split it's 1:03.776 followed by a 1:45.325 which puts him behind Raikkonen but ahead of Barrichello.
Depending on how you look at it, this is either a great thing or a bad thing. The new look aggregate system means that Sunday's grid is virtually decided certainly the McLaren and Ferrari drivers are unlikely to threaten Fisichella.
On the other hand, we are assured of a mixed-up grid.
Fisichella is quickest, ahead of Trulli, with Webber third followed by Villeneuve, Klien, Coulthard, Heidfeld, Button, Karthikeyan and Raikkonen.
Montoya is eleventh ahead of Barrichello, Monteiro, Alonso, Albers, Friesacher, Ralf, Michael, Massa and Sato.