08/10/2005
NEWS STORY
 |
Ahead of today's qualifying session for the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the season, the air temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is also 24 degrees. The good news is that it has stopped raining… for now. That said, the track remains very damp in patches, which will hurt the early runners.
Following this morning's drama, when Narain Karthikeyan came close to posting the fastest time, and Jordan teammate, Tiago Monteiro, along with the Minardi duo, made it into the top ten, it remains to be seen what surprises are in stroe for us in the next hour.
First out is David Coulthard, and during his out lap it is obvious just how damp the track really is, in some sections the Red Bull is kicking up a massive 'rooster tail'. At the first split the Scotsman posts 38.207, followed by a 25.713 at the second split (That's 1minute 25 seconds by the way). At the line it's 1:46.892, which gives an idea of how wet it really is out there.
Calamity for Pizzonia who spins on his out lap, losing valuable pace. However, he continues and at the first split posts 38.449, he's 0.24 down on the Scot. At the second split it's 26.747, as he falls even further behind. At the line the WilliamsF1 driver posts 1:48.898, he's over 2s off Coulthard's time.
Third out is Robert Doornbos, who looked very good this morning. At the first split the Minardi driver posts 39.566, he's already 1.3s down. At the second split the Dutch driver registers 30.244, it is very, very wet on the back straight - the approach to 130R. At the line it's 1:52.894.
Mark Webber is next out. At the first split the Australian posts 37.558, as he struggles bravely with the car, almost losing it through a couple of the corners. At the second split it's 25.560 as he passes Monteiro, who has spun off on his out lap. At the line the WilliamsF1 driver posts 1:47.233, to go second, having lost a whole load of time in the final sector.
Monteiro is stuck in the gravel at Degner. The Portuguese driver gets out of his car and begins the long hike back to the pits. Luckily, there is a marshal with a motorcycle who gives him a lift back… where the Jordan crew awaits.
Next out is this morning's hero, Narain Karthikeyan. The car slithers around the track during the out lap, the Indian really pushing. At the first split the Jordan driver posts 38.688, he's only 0.48s down. At the second split it's 26.944, he's now 1.2s down on Coulthard. At the line it's 1:48.718, which puts him third. A good, brave lap.
Christijan Albers in on track in the Minardi. At the first split the Dutch driver posts 39.222, he's already over a second down, but pushing. At the second split it's 28.365 as he loses a heap of time in the twist part of the track. At the line it's 1:50.843, which puts him fifth.
Jarno Trulli is on track in the Toyota, however, it looks a real handful. At the first split the Italian posts 37.631 to go quickest, but then gets it all wrong at Degner and spins off, game over. He climbs from the car, only his pride slightly battered.
Jacques Villeneuve is next out, in the Sauber. At the first split the Canadian posts 35.578, the car really twitching as he goes quickest. At the second split it's 25.828, the back of the car really lapping grip through Spoon. At the line it's 1:47.440, which is good enough for third.
Teammate Felipe Massa is next out, what can he do? At the first split the Brazilian posts 38.336, he's down on Coulthard, but it's marginal. At the second split the Sauber driver posts 26.797, followed by a 1:48.278 at the line.
At the second break, the order is: Coulthard, Webber, Villeneuve, Massa, Karthikeyan, Pizzonia, Albers and Doornbos.
Clearly, although it is not raining, the track doesn't appear to be drying.
All eyes on local hero Takuma Sato, who despite the hyperbole still doesn't have a drive for 2006. This is as good a time as any to prove himself. At the first split the BAR driver posts 38.042, he's quickest, but only just. At the second split it's 25.770, he's lost time, but not much. At the line it's 1:46.841, to the crowd's delight he takes provisional pole.
Next out is Christian Klien in the second Red Bull. At the first split the Austrian posts 37.908, he's 0.134s up on Sato. At the second split it's 25.393, as continues to set the pace. Despite a twitch exiting the final chicane, the youngster goes quickest, crossing the line at 1:46.464. A great lap.
At the first split, Ralf Schumacher posts 37.396, to go 0.512s up on Klien. Unlike his teammate he gets through Degner intact, going on to complete the second sector in 24.897. At the line it's 1:46.106, to give Toyota provisional pole position in its home race.
Jenson Button is on track in the BAR, Honda desperate to out-do its Japanese rivals. At the first split it's 37.860, he's down on Ralf. At the second split the Englishman posts 25.121, as he slips further behind the German. At the line it's 1:46.141, which is still good enough for second.
Last out before the final break is Rubens Barrichello. At the first split the Ferrari driver posts 38.393, he's already 0.987s off the pace. He's oh so cautious at Spoon, completing the second sector in 26.529. At the line it's 1:48.248, which puts him eighth, behind Coulthard, Webber and Villeneuve.
At the final break, it's: Ralf, Button, Klien, Sato, Coulthard, Webber, Villeneuve, Barrichello, Massa and Karthikeyan.
Next out is Giancarlo Fisichella in the Renault. At the first split the Melbourne GP winner posts 37.327, he's quickest, but it's marginal. At the second split it's 24.937, as he loses ground to Ralf Schumacher. At the line it's 1:46.276, which puts him third.
All eyes on Michael Schumacher as it begins to start raining at the precise moment he starts his flying lap - on intermediates. At the first split it's 37.897, he's already 0.501s down. As the rain falls he completes the second sector in 28.029, 3.1s down on his brother. The Ferrari appears to be running on ice as the German negotiates the chicane, crossing the line at 1:52.676 to go fourteenth.
Alonso is on track in the Renault. At the first split the new World Champion posts 39.719, as the rain lashes the Suzuka track. At the second split it's 30.574, as he falls 5.6s off the pace. At the line it's 1:54.667, which under the circumstances is pretty good.., to take 130R at that speed in these conditions takes real balls.
Kimi Raikkonen is on track in the McLaren. At the first split the Finn posts 44.497 as conditions deteriorate still further. At the second split 'Mr Lucky' posts 37.654, he's now 12s down on Ralf Schumacher. At the line it's 2:02.309, which puts him seventeenth.
Even before begins his flying lap, Juan Pablo Montoya is sliding al over the place, it's horrendous out there. At the first split it's 41.290, followed by a 31.553 at the second. The Colombian opts not to complete the lap and dives into the grid, as former teammate, Ralf Schumacher, and the Toyota crew celebrate a great achievement, the team's second pole, but its first in Japan.
An absolutely crazy session, which has produced one of the most interesting grid we've had for some time.
There are all sorts of strategic and set-up variables at work here, however, the main thing is that the main protagonists - for the Constructors' Championship - are starting from the back of the grid, though Giancarlo Fisichella has the opportunity to do some real good for Renault.
Earlier this weekend, Fernando Alonso declared that Kimi Raikkonen has been lucky this season, and though most of us would have to laugh at the very suggestion, here, at least, Lady Luck does appear to have given the hapless finn a helping hand.
At the front we have Ralf, Button, Fisichella, Klien, Sato, Coulthard, Webber, Villeneuve, Barrichello and Massa. While at the back we have Montoya, Trulli, Raikkonen, Alonso and Michael.
The good news - depending on how you look at it - is that there is a 50 percent chance of rain tomorrow… so we could well be in for a classic.
In the meantime, full credit to Ralf Schumacher and Toyota, who in a week dominated by Honda, will be happy to enjoy their share of the spotlight.