02/07/2005
NEWS STORY
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Following this morning's (second) free practice session, there is a real sense of anticipation ahead of today's qualifying session.
After the nonsense of Indianapolis, it is truly great to put the bull**** to one side, and get on with what F1 should be all about, racing.
In this morning's second session, the top 11 were covered by 0.9s, which sets up the qualifying session, and indeed the race, nicely.
Although overcast, it's dry, and the air temperature is 21 degrees, while the track temperature is 25 degrees. Humidity has dropped to 72%.
First out this afternoon will be Ralf Schumacher, who missed the United States Grand Prix - though in his case it was due an accident rather than politics - he will be followed by David Coulthard, Nick Heidfeld, Christian Klien and Jacque Villeneuve.
Since they actually took part in the Indianapolis event - and finished - the Minardis and Jordans will be amongst the last go out, while Kimi Raikkonen forfeits ten grid places due to yesterday's engine change.
At 13:00, Ralf heads out of the Toyota garage, the session is underway. At the first split the German posts 24.316, as he locks his front brakes at Adelaide. At the second split it's 51.228, followed by a 1:15.771 at the line. The mistake at the hairpin cost him.
At the first split, David Coulthard posts 24.680, he's 0.36s down on Schumacher. At the second split it's 51.415, as he makes up the time that Ralf lost at Adelaide. At the line the3 Scot posts 1:16.434, 0.6s down on the Toyota, having lost a heap of time in the final sector.
The WilliamsF1s haven't looked good thus far this weekend, despite new aero components, so what can Nick Heidfeld do now. At the first split it's 24.641, he's 0.32s down on his compatriot. At the second split it's 51.286, as he closes to within 0.058s of Schumacher. At the line it's 1:16.207, which puts him second.
At the first split Christian Klien posts 24.774, he's 0.45s off the pace. At the second split the Austrian posts 51.550, the Red Bull clearly struggling for grip. At the line it's 1:16.547, which puts him fourth, behind his teammate.
Last out before the first break is Jacques Villeneuve. At the first split the former World Champion posts 24.675, he's 0.359s off Ralf's pace. At the second split it's 51.034, as the Canadian goes quicker than the Toyota. At the line it's 1:15.699, provisional pole for the Canadian, and a great, great lap.
At the first break it's Villeneuve, Ralf, Heidfeld, Coulthard and Klien.
Next out is Juan Pablo Montoya who, thanks to Raikkonen's engine change, is sure to be the highest placed McLaren driver on the grid. At the first split the Colombian posts 24.493, he's 0.182s up on Villeneuve. At the second split it's 50.791, he's still quicker despite a mistake at 180. At the line it's 1:15.406, provisional pole by 0.293s.
Felipe Massa is next out, he's been out-paced by his Sauber teammate for much of the weekend. At the first split it's 24.448, he's up on Montoya by 0.045. At the second split he's down on the Colombian by 0.124. At the line the Brazilian posts 1:15.566, which puts him second, by just 0.160s.
Mark Webber is on track in the WilliamsF1. At the first split the Australian posts 24.636, he's already 0.143s down on Montoya. At the second split it's 51.121, as he continues to lose ground to the former WilliamsF1 driver. At the line it's 1:15.885, which puts him fifth, ahead of Heidfeld.
All eyes on Takuma Sato in the BAR. At the first split it's 24.258, he's 0.235s up on Montoya. At the second split the Japanese star posts 50.371, he's now 0.419s up on the WilliamsF1 driver. At the line Takuma posts 1:14.655, the first driver to break the 1:14s barrier, a superb lap.
Last out before the break is World Championship leader, Fernando Alonso. At the first split the Spaniard posts 24.262, he's down on Sato, but it's marginal. At the second split the Renault driver posts 50.223, he's 0.147s up on the BAR. At the line it's 1:14.412, provisional pole for Fernando, another superb lap.
Alonso, Sato, Montoya, Massa, Villeneuve, Ralf, Webber, Heidfeld, Coulthard and Klien.
Out next is this morning's pace-setter, Giancarlo Fisichella, who really needs a bit of good luck this weekend. At the first split the Italian posts 24.252, he's 0.010s up on his teammate. At the second split it's 50.348, as he loses ground to Alonso. At the line it's 1:14.887, he loses a heap of time and is consequently provisional third, behind Alonso and Sato.
Jenson Button is next out, the Englishman really eager this weekend. At the first split it's 24.425, he's 0.16s down on Alonso. At the second split it's 50.705, as he continues to lose ground. At the line the Englishman posts 1:15.051, which puts him fourth, 0.639s off the pace.
Kimi Raikkonen is next out, however the Finn will forfeit ten grid spots. At the first split it's 24.374, he's 0.112s down on the Spaniard. At the second split it's 50.298, he makes up a little time but he's still down on the Renault driver. At the line it's 1:14.559, which puts him second, a strong lap.
Jarno Trulli is on track in the second Toyota. At the first split it's 24.301, he's down on Alonso, but it's marginal. At the second split the Italian posts 50.317, he's still 'in touch' with his former teammate. At the line it's 1:14.521, which puts him second, a strong finish for Jarno at a track which has bad memories.
All eyes on Patrick Friesacher in the Minardi. At the first split it's 25.307, he's already over a second off the pace. At the second split it's 52.482, as he falls to 2.260s off the pace. At the line it's 1:17.960, which puts him fifteenth, a typically determined lap from the Austrian.
At the final break it's; Alonso, Trulli, Raikkonen, Sato, Fisichella, Button, Montoya, Massa, Villeneuve and Ralf.
Christijan Albers takes to the track in the second Minardi. At the first split the Dutch driver posts 25.305, he's just 0.002s off his teammate's pace. At the second split it's 52.538 as he gets it totally wrong at the chicane, somehow keeping it on the 'black stuff'. He crosses the line at 1:18.335, which puts him sixteenth.
At the first split Narain Karthikeyan posts 25.036, he's 0.774s off Alonso's pace. At the second split the Indian posts 52.315, as he loses a whole heap of time. The car is all over the place, and consequently he crosses the line at 1:17.857, which puts him fifteenth.
Teammate Tiago Monteiro is next out. At the first split the Portuguese driver posts 25.308, he's already well down on his teammate. At the second split it's 52.261 as he really struggle with the Jordan. At the line it's 1:18.047, which puts him seventeenth, splitting the Minardis.
Rubens Barrichello is next out, in the Ferrari. At the first split the Brazilian posts 24.250, he's 0.012s up on Alonso. At the second split it's 50.194, as he continues to out-pace the Spaniard. At the line it's 1:14.832, as he goes fifth, having lost a massive amount of time. Where did he lose it?
Last out is Michael Schumacher, can he spoil the French (Renault) party? At the first split the German posts 24.105, he's 0.157s up on the Spaniard. At the second split the Ferrari driver posts 50.255, as he drops to 0.033s off Alonso's pace. At the line it's 1:14.572, which puts him fourth.
Therefore it's Fernando Alonso who will start from pole for the fifth time this year, The Spaniard's World Championship cause greatly helped by the fact that Kimi Raikkonen drops ten places to thirteenth.
A strong performance for Jarno Trulli, who will start the race from the front row of the grid, alongside his former teammate and ahead of Michael Schumacher and Takuma Sato.
All in all, an interesting session, that poses more questions than it answers. However, looking through the times it is WilliamsF1 which will be most disappointed, its drivers only managing thirteenth and fourteenth. Similarly, Red Bull will be unhappy with fifteenth and sixteenth.
The top nine is covered by 0.994s, while the top 5 - including Raikkonen - is covered by just 0.243.
Thankfully, F1 appears to be taking off from where it left off in Canada, since we have the prospect of an intriguing race tomorrow, which at this stage would seem impossible to call.
The Renault looks superb here, as does the McLaren, however, Montoya starts from ninth, just a few spots ahead of his teammate.
Can Toyota produce some magic, or are we going to witness the continuation of the Ferrari revival.
As we look ahead to tomorrow's race, we can thankfully focus on the battle that lies ahead, and in view of recent events it's a delight to be able to say that we mean the on-track battle between the drivers as opposed to the political war of words we've suffered in recent weeks… months… years.
Bring it on!