21/10/2006
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of this afternoon's all-important qualifying session for the final round of the 2006 Formula One World Championship, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 38 degrees. It's still unusually cool, though the sun is finally shining.
Other than Robert Doornbos, who had his engine changed after a failure in yesterday's second session, nobody is facing a grid penalty. Yet!
The lights go green, and first out, after a brief pause, is Sakon Yamamoto. As the Super Aguri driver comes to the end of his out lap, Tiago Monteiro leaves the pits, followed by Trulli and Albers.
In the Ferrari garage the crew is working frantically on Felipe Massa's car, the Brazilian appearing to having a new gearbox fitted. Out on track, Sato posts 15.244, the first time of the afternoon, as Monteiro spins off. For a while it looks as though the Portuguese driver might get going again, however, his session is over, he's out. Not the sort of thing you want to do when you don't have a drive for 2007.
Trulli goes quickest (12.719), ahead of Doornbos and Albers, however moments later it is Ralf who goes second.
As Button goes fourth (13.145), Michael Schumacher heads down the pitlane.
As Barrichello locks-up, Doornbos goes second, splitting the two Toyotas.
Rosberg goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 1:12.690. however, Michael is now on his first flying lap.
Webber makes it a WilliamsF1 1-2, but both Michael and Raikkonen are on flying laps. The Finn goes quickest (12.035), but is immediately beaten by Michael, who posts 11.565.
Massa leaves the pits with just over five minutes remaining, followed by Alonso and Fisichella. Moments later, Kubica heads down the pitlane, followed by his BMW teammate.
Massa goes quickest in the first sector, and again in the second. At the line it's 1:10.643, an unbelievable lap.
Alonso goes third with a 11.791, ahead of Kimi and Fisichella, though moments later the Italian is nudged down to sixth by Kubica.
With just over a minute remaining, Coulthard is still in the danger zone, as Ralf goes third, and de la Rosa fifth and Trulli sixth.
Coulthard crosses the line before the chequered flag comes out, but it's not looking good for the Scots veteran. Liuzzi is also in danger of falling at the first hurdle.
The first phase ends and Doornbos makes the cut at the last moment, which is bad news for Speed, who along with Albers, Coulthard, Sato, Yamamoto and Monteiro, will play no further part in the session.
Quickest was Massa, ahead of Michael, Ralf, Alonso, de la Rosa, Trulli, Webber, Rosberg, Barrichello and Raikkonen.
The second phase gets underway, almost ninety second later, Jarno Trulli heads down the pitlane, the first driver to make an appearance. Moments later, he's followed by his Toyota teammate.
Trulli sets the benchmark with a 1:11.343, with Ralf posting 11.670. However, moments later Kubica splits the pair, crossing the line at 11.589. Teammate, Nick Heidfeld, can only manage fourth.
Ralf improves to second, as Button aborts his lap and returns to the pits. Rosberg goes fourth, ahead of Heidfeld and Liuzzi.
A 1:11.578 sees Barrichello go third, however, Michael, Fisichella, Alonso and de la Rosa are on track.
Alonso goes quickest (11.148), but Michael is on a hot lap. Indeed, the German crosses the line at 1:10.313, the Ferraris, and Bridgestones, looking awesome.
De la Rosa can only manage eighth, as Kimi begins his first flying lap of the second phase. The Finn can only manage ninth (11.748), which has team boss Ron Dennis shaking his head.
Under five minutes remaining, and Massa is on track. He's off Schumacher's pace in the first sector, and again in the second. He crosses the line at 1:10.775, which is good enough for second, but 0.4s off his teammate's pace.
Both BMW drivers, along with Button, Fisichella, Liuzzi and Doornbos, still in the danger zone.
As Button begins his flying lap, Fisichella leaves the pits, the Italian cutting it mighty fine.
An 11.742 sees Button go eleventh, but he still has time for another lap, and the Michelins are clearly better on the second lap.
Raikkonen improves to fifth, as Fisi goes sixth, but it's bad new for Button who appears to have failed. De la Rosa, Webber and Rosberg are the other surprise failures.
Therefore, in the second phase we lose Button, Webber, Rosberg, de la Rosa, Liuzzi and Doornbos.
Fastest was Michael, ahead of Massa, Alonso, Trulli, Raikkonen, Fisichella, Ralf, Barrichello, Kubica and Heidfeld.
Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa head the traffic jam at the end of the pitlane as we await the start of the final phase, the all-important battle for pole position. Alonso is seventh in the queue, behind his teammate.
For some reason Michael slows and allows the rest to pass him, is there a problem or is this part of the team's strategy.
In car footage has the car sounding horrible, really horrible. He heads slowly back to the pits, could it be over before its even begun?
The German is pushed into his garage, the crew, including Ross Brawn, looking extremely concerned.
Back on track, Massa and friends get the fuel burn phase underway.
Depending on how serious the problem is with Schumacher's Ferrari, the fact that he is not out on track using up fuel is causing further harm to his, and the team's, championship hopes.
With seven minutes remaining, Alonso, Fisichella, Raikkonen, Barrichello and Kubica all pit. In the Ferrari garage Schumacher waits forlornly, though his session appears to be over. Therefore, at best he will start from twentieth, however, if his engine is changed he would start from twentieth.
Back on track, Raikkonen and Fisichella are posting some hot sector times.
Kubica goes quickest, but first Alonso, then Raikkonen, go quicker. However, Massa is on an absolute blinder, the Ferrari driver crossing the line at 1:10.842. That's with race fuel remember.
Under three minutes remaining, and Michael may yet make an appearance. The crew certainly appears to be preparing the car for a run.
The drivers begin their final laps, as Michael climbs out of his 248 F1.
On track, Alonso goes quickest in the first sector, but then Kimi goes quicker. However, Massa is also on a hot lap.
Alonso goes third (11.567), however, all eyes are on Kimi and Massa. However, the Spaniard should get another lap.
Massa improves to 10.680, ahead of Raikkonen and Trulli, with Alonso failing to improve.
Therefore, Felipe Massa, takes the third pole of his F1 career, his first at Interlagos, his home race. Kimi Raikkonen will start from second, ahead of Trulli, Alonso, Barrichello, Fisichella, Ralf, Heidfeld, Kubica and Michael. However, it remains to be seen whether the German will need an engine change, resulting in him starting even further back on the grid.
Despite a devastating lap from Felipe, Michael's 'retirement' took much of the shine off the session.
That said, we have an interesting grid, especially with Trulli - the mobile chicane - starting ahead of Alonso.
The Drivers' Championship looks all but settled, however, as for the Constructors' Championship, than an entirely different matter.
To check out our Brazil qualifying gallery, click here