|
For Michelin it would be
the BMW WilliamsF1 team who would secure the highest starting positions on
the grid. WilliamsF1 driver Ralf Schumacher was third fastest, less than
half a second behind the pole time
Michelin drivers favour the softer of the two available dry-weather
compounds this weekend and this worked well in extremely slippery
conditions that have caused most of the world's leading drivers to run off
the track at least once during the weekend.
Ralf is joined by WilliamsF1 team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya on the second
row after the Colombian finished in fourth. Renault's Jarno Trulli is in
sixth while his team-mate Jenson Button is ninth. The McLaren pair of
David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen are tenth and eleventh.
Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin Motorsport Director, responded to several
questions.
You don't have any representatives on the front row this weekend, although
Ralf Schumacher (BMW WilliamsF1 Team) was close to the pace of the leading
cars. Are you happy with the way things have gone in general?
"Yes, I am. Getting two cars onto the second row is a pretty good result
for us and proves that Williams and BMW have done an awful lot of hard
work to create a good package. Even after this morning's final free
practice, we didn't think we would be this close to the pace. That element
of today's performance has been very satisfactory, and the Renaults have
shown a good turn of speed, too. On the flipside, yesterday
McLaren-Mercedes was very competitive and we share their sens e of
disappointment that the things did not turn out that way during the
qualifying session."
Have you found a reason for the tyre damage on David Coulthard's McLaren
yesterday?
"In fact there was no damage. The tyre was knocked of the rim when he hit
the kerb. Sometimes the bead can be on seated like this. When we put
pressure back in the tyre it was fine."
Traditionally this is a two-stop race. Have you seen anything to make you
think things will be different this time?
"Obviously some teams might take an alternative approach, but the data
suggests a two-stop strategy will be quickest. From what we have seen so
far we have absolutely no concerns about tyre wear."
Does that mean you have perhaps taken a slightly too conservative
approach?
"No, I don't think so. We don't have a problem with tyre wear, but then we
don't have much margin for error either. If the track temperature rises
tomorrow, which the forecast suggests it might, then the tyre situation is
likely to change. We will have to wait and see. Either way, I don't
anticipate any problems."
Yesterday your partner teams found your softer, option (B) tyre to be best
suited to the conditions. Is that the only compound we will see in
tomorrow's race?
"It's safe to say that..." |
