07/10/2006
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's qualifying session, the air temperature is 24 degrees C, and the track temperature is 31 degrees. After yesterday's mixed conditions, today it is bright and sunny, however, strong winds continue to cause problems, unsettling cars in a number of corners.
It's worth noting that inland it is very cloudy, and it looks to be heading this way.
Michael Schumacher set a blistering pace in this morning's free practice session, however, one has to wonder if Renault was playing its cards close to its chest, saving its best for this session. We'll soon know.
The lights go green, the first phase gets underway, with Jarno Trulli first out, followed a few moments later by his Toyota teammate, Ralf.
Barrichello, Button and Coulthard leave the pits, as Trulli begins his first flying lap. The Italian posts 1:33.975, as Sakon Yamamoto grinds to a halt in the second sector, his car appearing to have lost all drive.
Ralf goes quickest (33.644), as Yamamoto is pushed to the side of the track, his session clearly over.
Button goes quickest (33.057), ahead of Doornbos, but Webber is already on a hot lap, having gone quickest in the first sector. The Australian goes quickest (32.275) ahead of Button, Coulthard and Doornbos. However, Heidfeld and Liuzzi are also on hot laps.
A 1:32.123 sees Rosberg go quickest, but he is instantly demoted by Raikkonen, who crosses the line at 31.811. However, the order is rearranged as Michael posts 31.279, to go quickest, and Heidfeld goes second.
Just over five minutes remaining, and the only driver who hasn't been out is Fisichella.
Massa goes quickest in the first sector, and again in the second, he's already a second up on Michael. At the line it's 1:30.112, Ferrari isn't mucking about.
As Alonso begins his flying lap, Fisichella finally leaves the pits. de la Rosa is still in the danger zone, he needs to get out on track.
Alonso goes second, splitting the Ferraris with a 30.796. Moments later, Kubica goes third.
A 1:33.975 see Trulli go second and Ralf third, the Toyota duo punching well above its weight.
Less than a minute remaining and de la Rosa is still in danger, as are Speed and Monteiro. Elsewhere, Button goes fourth.
De la Rosa goes eighth (31.581), which means that Webber and Doornbos are both in danger. Though Coulthard can't exactly relax.
Webber crosses the line at 31.647 to go tenth, which means we lose both Red Bulls, along with Monteiro and the Super Aguris.
Quickest was Massa, ahead of Trulli, Rosberg, Ralf, Button, Alonso, Kubica, Michael, de la Rosa and Webber.
Liuzzi is first out for the second phase, as Ralf is warned of the heavy winds at Turn 6 causing instability. Teammate Trulli follows Liuzzi down the pitlane.
Liuzzi posts the benchmark (33.755), but de la Rosa, Heidfeld, Kubica and the WilliamsF1s are on track, as is Trulli, who goes quickest (30.204).
Alonso, Fisichella and Button leave the pits, as Heidfeld goes second and teammate, Kubica, third.
Michael leaves the pits, which means that only Raikkonen and Massa haven't appeared in this phase.
Ralf goes second (30.299), as Bridgestone continues to look good here. Rosberg goes fourth, ahead of Kubica and Webber.
Michael is quickest in the first sector, as Fisichella goes third with a 30.306. The German crosses the line at a staggering 1:28.954, possibly the quickest lap here in years. Unbelievable!
Raikkonen and Massa leave the pits with just over six minutes remaining. The Finn goes eighth (30.867), while the Brazilian takes second with a 29.830.
Less than four minutes remaining, and de la Rosa, Webber, Kubica and Barrichello are all in the danger zone. As are Liuzzi and Albers.
Just over three minutes remaining, and nobody is on track. However, Kimi fires up his Mercedes powerplant and heads down the pitlane - he needs to, he's ninth quickest and not out of danger. The Finn is followed by Button, Barrichello, Webber et al. Only the Ferrari, Toyota and Renault drivers appear to have settled for the times they have.
The session ends, but ten drivers are still on their final laps.
Button goes fourth (30.268), but Kubica can only improve to twelfth. Raikkonen fails to improve as does de la Rosa, consequently both McLarens are out.
Therefore, we now lose Raikkonen, Kubica, de la Rosa, Webber, Liuzzi and albers.
Quickest was Michael, ahead of Massa, Trulli, Button, Ralf, Fisichella, Rosberg, Alonso, Heidfeld and Barrichello.
The two Ferraris lead the 'traffic jam' as we await the start of the final phase. Behind them are the two Hondas, with the Renaults hoping to push in.
No messing, as the Ferraris leave the pits, the Renaults almost collide as they force their way in front of the Hondas. As the fuel burn phase gets underway, Alonso is hard on the heels of Massa, it's almost as if we're already racing. Meanwhile, Michael heads off into the distance.
"I'm stuck!" Alonso tells his crew over the radio. "I tried to overtake Massa, but I'm stuck!". Indeed, heading down the pit straight Alonso looks as though he's going to make a move, but appears to have second thoughts. "Drop back and try again," he's told over the radio.
Just under nine minutes remaining, and Michael pits, as do Button and Alonso. There a little puffs of smoke from Heidfeld's BMW, but his pace seems fine.
Trulli goes quickest (30.916), as the serious business gets underway.
As Massa goes quickest in the final sector, Barrichello goes second quickest, crossing the line at 31.704.
Michael goes quickest in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 1:30.245, to take provisional pole. A 30.358 sees Massa go second, ahead of Trulli and Fisichella.
Under four minutes remaining, and Michael and Alonso both pit. They're followed by Massa, Rosberg and Fisichella.
All ten have made their final stops, and with less than two minutes remaining, the fight is on.
Michael goes quickest in the first sector, but Massa almost instantly goes quicker. Elsewhere, Alonso is already 0.4s down.
Michael goes quickest in the second sector, as Trulli goes quickest in the first.
Michael crosses the line at 1:29.711, but is eclipsed by his teammate, who posts 29.599.
Ralf goes third, ahead of his Toyota teammate, as Alonso can only manage fifth, ahead of Fisichella. Button is seventh, with Barrichello eighth, ahead of Heidfeld and Rosberg.
A week after Michelin humbled Bridgestone at Shanghai, the Japanese manufacturer, on home soil, has turned the tables, filling the first four positions,
An all Ferrari front row, with the Toyotas giving Michael an added safety buffer, which will surely add to Fernando Alonso's frustration.
We wondered, following free practice, whether Renault was playing its cars close to its chest, one now wonders if the French team is saving itself for tomorrow's race. That said, however, the pace of the Ferraris today has been unreal, and only a brave man - or a fool - would bet against Michael taking another win tomorrow.
To check out our Suzuka qualifying gallery, click here