10/09/2005
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's qualifying session, the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 35 degrees. Following yesterday's deluge, it is much better today, with blue skies and bright sunshine. That said, rain is still forecast for Sunday's race.
The big news is that Giancarlo Fisichella has had the engine changes in his Renault, which will hinder the French team's chances in its fight for the Constructors' Championship with McLaren.
With no retirements at Monza, there are no surprises today, with no 'big guns' going out with the Jordans and Minardis.
First out is Narain Karthikeyan, who will be followed by Albers, Doornbos, Monteiro and Sato. Last out will be Monza winner, Juan Pablo Montoya.
At 13:00 precisely, Narain Karthikeyan, making his qualifying debut in the EJ15B, heads off down the pitlane, the session is underway.
At the first split the Jordan driver posts 30.219, followed by a 1:20.300 at the second. The car is a little twitchy, though there was no 'lift off' through Eau roge. He crosses the line at 1:51.675.
Christijan Albers completes the first sector in 29.537, he's already 0.59s up on Karthikeyan. At the second split it's 1:19.248, he's now over a second to the good. At the line the Minardi driver posts 1:49.842.
Minardi number two, Robert Doornbos, is next up. The driver completes the first sector in 29.623, he's down on his teammate, but it's marginal. At the second split it's 1:18.840, he's now 0.407s up on Albers. At the line it's 1:49.779, an excellent lap.
Tiago Monteiro is on track in the second EJ15B. At the first split the Portuguese driver posts 30.039, he's already 0.3s down, but up on his teammate. At the second split it's 1:20.322, he's now 1.4s down on the Minardi. At the line it's 1:15.498, which puts him third, behind the Minardis.
Next out is Takuma Sato in the BAR, who should significantly raise the benchmark. At the first split the Japanese driver posts 29.626, he's 0.003s down on Doornbos. At the second split Takuma posts 1:17.912, he's now 0.928s up on the Minardi. At the line it's 1:48.353, he takes provisional pole by 1.426.
Next out is David Coulthard, who had a miserable race in Italy, spending much of the day battling with Mark Webber, following a first lap incident. At the first split the Scot posts 29.533, he's 0.093s up on Sato, however the Japanese driver had a poor first sector. At the second split it's 1:18.114, he's now 0.2s down on the BAR driver. At the line it's 1:48.508, which puts him second.
Mark Webber is on track in the WilliamsF1. At the first split the Australian posts 29.459, he's 0.167s up on Sato. At the second split it's 1:17.630, he maintains a 0.2s 'lead'. At the line it's 1:48.071, provisional pole by 0.282.
Red Bull's Christian Klien is next out. At the first split the Austrian posts 29.575, which puts him 0.116s down on Webber. At the second split the former Jaguar driver posts 1:18.414, he's 0.784s off the pace, and also 0.3s down on his teammate. At the line it's 1:48.994, good enough for fourth.
Rubens Barrichello is on track in the Ferrari. At the first split the Brazilian posts 29.564, he's 0.105s down on Webber. A mistake a Rivage costs him time, consequently he competes the second sector in 1:17.923, a 0.293 deficit to the Australian. At the line it's 1:48.550, which puts him fourth.
Last out before the second break is Jacques Villeneuve. At the first split the former world Champion posts 29.353, he's 0.106s up on Webber. At the second split it's 1:18.390, he's 0.760s down, having got it slightly wrong at Rivage, like Barrichello. At the line it's 1:48.889, which puts him fifth.
The order, at the second break, is: Webber, Sato, Coulthard, Barrichello, Villeneuve, Klien, Doornbos, Albers, Monteiro and Karthikeyan.
Michael Schumacher, who has won here 5 times, takes to the track in the Ferrari. At the first split the seven time World Champion posts 29.535, he's down on Webber, but it's marginal. At the second split the German posts 1:16.918, he's now 0.712s to the good. At the line it's 1:47.476, he takes pole by 0.595s. An excellent lap.
Schumacher's 2006 teammate is next out, Felipe Massa. At the first split the Brazilian posts 29.285, he's 0.250s up on Schumacher. At the second split the Sauber driver posts 1:17.508, he's now 0.591s down. At the line it's 1:47.867, which puts him second, the quickest of all in the first and third sectors, a superb lap.
Jenson Button is on track in the second BAR. At the first split the Englishman posts 29.645, he's 0.110s down. At the second split it's 1:17.462, he's now 0.545s down. At the line he posts 1:47.978, which puts him third. He is sure to be disappointed with that, the BAR not looking too good here.
Antonio Pizzonia takes to the track, the Brazilian, once again, replacing Nick Heidfeld. At the first split it's 29.576, he's down on Schumacher, but it's close. At the second split the Brazilian posts 1:18.247, he's lost a lot of time, but where? At the line it's 1:48.898, which puts him ninth, 0.8s down on his teammate.
At the first split Ralf Schumacher posts 29.481, he's 0.054s up on his brother. At the second split it's 1:17.049, as he falls 0.132s behind the Ferrari's time. At the line it's 1:47.401, he takes provisional pole, having gone quickest in the final sector.
At the final break it's Ralf, Michael, Massa, Button, Webber, Sato, Coulthard, Barrichello, Villeneuve and Pizzonia.
As Jarno Trulli begins his out lap, there appear to be a few drops of rain falling. Meanwhile, in the Renault garage, the mechanics are working frantically on Fernando Alonso's car.
Jarno begins his flying lap, completing the first sector in 29.412, 0.069s quicker than his teammate. At the second split it's 1:16.246, he's now 0.8s up on his teammate. At the line it's 1:46.596, which gives him provisional pole. An absolutely stunning lap, brilliant.
Kimi Raikkonen is on track in the McLaren. At the first split the Finn posts 29.221, he's 0.191s up on Trulli. At the second split the championship hopeful posts 1:16.375, he's lost time and is now 0.17s down. At the line it's 1:46.440, he takes pole by 0.156s.
Giancarlo Fisichella is on track in the Renault, he's lose ten grid spots following that engine change. At the fist split it's 28.841, he's already 0.4s up on Raikkonen, a brilliant start. At the second split it's 1:16.583, he's now 0.209s down on the Finn. At the line it's 1:46.497, which puts the Italian second, for now.
All eyes on Fernando Alonso, the World Champion elect. At the first split the Spaniard posts 29.026, he's 0.195s up on Raikkonen. At the second split the Renault star posts 1:16.876, he's lost a whole heap of time, he's 0.5s down. At the line it's 1:46.760, which puts him fourth. Where did he lose all that time?
Last out is Monza maestro, Juan Pablo Montoya. At the first split the McLaren star posts 29.143, he's 0.078s up on his teammate. At the second split it's 1:16.336, he's now 0.038s up on his teammate. At the line it's 1:46.391, he takes pole by 0.049s, even Kimi is impressed.
An all-McLaren front row for tomorrow's race with Juan Pablo Montoya starting ahead of Kimi Raikkonen. Fisichella loses ten spots, which means that Trulli starts from third, ahead of Alonso, Ralf, Michael, Massa, Button, Webber and Sato.
A superb performance by the two McLaren drivers, whilst Jarno Trulli's lap was simply awesome.
However, the general consensus of opinion is that we're in for rain tomorrow, lots of it, which means that speculation is academic at this point.
That said, having secured the front row, McLaren must be feeling pretty confident not only of keeping the Drivers' Championship alive, but also preventing Renault from taking the Constructors' Championship.