Difficult time for WilliamsF1 in US GP Qualifying

Mark Webber
By Andrew Hooper
July 1 2006

It would be a difficult time for both WilliamsF1 drivers in qualifying for the US Grand Prix. Mark could only manage 12th while Nico was down in 19th. At one time it looked like neither driver would make it past the first period of qualifying. Sunday's race is going to come down to strategy.

United States GP Qualifying

The first fifteen minute period of qualifying would get under way with both WilliamsF1 drivers coming out early. They were joined by Ralf Schumacher and Heidfeld. Montagny was also out on the track. Mark would set the first time with a 1m:14.108. Heidfeld was next with a 1m:14.147. But Ralf would beat both of them with a 1m:13.776. There was now a rush of drivers coming out including
Button, Klien, Barrichello, Trulli, and Coulthard. Mark was back in his pit, as was Ralf. Nico's first lap was a 1m:14.417 to be in fourth. Raikkonen was out on the circuit. Both of the MF1 drivers were running with nine minutes remaining.

Rosberg Trulli was now in second with a time of 1m:13.787. But at the top it would now be Albers leading from Klien and Button. But the second Honda of Barrichello would take the top spot with a 1m:13.286. But just as quickly Monteiro and Coulthard would be first and second. Speed was now in third, 1m:13.197. Raikkonen was down in eighth. Mark was in twelfth and Nico fifteenth. Both Ferrari's had come out joined by both Renault's. Villeneuve was the final driver to take to the track.

At the top it would be Montoya who was now fastest, 1m:12.477. Monteiro was still second and Speed third. Michael was on a quick lap and would go fastest, 1m:11.588. Mark was now in fifteenth and Nico seventeenth. Both drivers were back out as Massa went fastest, 1m:11.088. Heidfeld was now third and Alonso fourth. With three minutes left both WilliamsF1 drivers were facing down the
barrel of been cut. Villeneuve was now in fourth. Mark's next lap would see him in eighth, 1m:12.935. Nico was only in seventeenth. Barrichello and Fisichella were now in fifth and sixth. Ralf would move into third seeing Mark now down in eleventh and Nico eighteenth and unlikely to continue into the next period.

With the end of the period those dropped were Coulthard, Sato, Rosberg, Trulli, Liuzzi, Sato, and Montagny. Mark was now in fifteenth and only just outside the bottom six. It would be most unlikely that he will get past the second period. The period would come to an end with Massa and Michael Schumacher first and second. They were followed by Ralf, Heidfeld, Villeneuve, Barrichello, Button, Fisichella, Alonso and in tenth Montoya.

The second period would get under way with just one WilliamsF1 driver taking part, Mark Webber. Mark was again out early joined by Villeneuve, Heidfeld and Ralf Schumacher. Klien had also left the pit lane. With eleven minutes left the BMW Sauber's were fastest with Heidfeld leading Villeneuve. Nick's time was a 1m:11.718. Ralf would split the two BMW drivers. Mark was in fourth with a 1m:12.508. We would also have both Honda's, Renault's, and McLaren's out on the track. The first group of four drivers who had come out first, including Mark, had all pitted.

Webber

Fisichella was now in third and Alonso sixth. Raikkonen and Montoya were in fifth and sixth. Barrichello was now fastest with a 1m:11.512. Button was in fifth. Alonso was down in tenth. Both Ferrari's had now come out leaving just the drivers from MF1. With six minutes remaining Michael would again move to the top of the times with a 1m:10.636. Massa was in second, 1m:11.146. Mark was now in eleventh with four minutes left. He was till out on the track. Alonso was in twelfth and facing the prospect of not making it into the final period.

Mark was able to put in a lap that would see him move into tenth, 1m:12.292, but it would not last for long as he was pushed down in twelfth. Mark would pit guaranteeing that he would not make the next period. This is the second race where Mark has failed to make the cut. Fastest was Michael from Massa, Fisichella, Barrichello, Ralf, Heidfeld, Villeneuve, Button, Alonso, and Raikkonen. Also joining Mark was Montoya, Speed, Albers, Monteiro, and Klien.

With the third period of qualifying under way we would see all ten drivers come out and start the process of burning of fuel. With twelve minutes left Michael was fastest but the times meant very little. For Nick Heidfeld his period would end when he would take his car off the circuit and onto the grass. Michael was still fastest with the Honda's of Barrichello and Button second and third.

Seven minutes left and there was a rush of drivers taking to the pit lane to take on fresh tyres. Barrichello, Button, Fisichella, Alonso and Villeneuve would all pit. Michael and Massa would also stop. Alonso was on a quick lap. He was joined by team-mate Fisichella. Alonso would go fastest with a time of 1m:12.449 but he was beaten by Fisichella, 1m:12.135. Villeneuve was third with a time of 1m:13.009. Button would move ahead of the Canadian. But it would be Michael who would secure the provisional pole with a time of 1m:10.832.

Massa was now in second, 1m:11.435, followed by Fisichella and Alonso. Button and Villeneuve were fifth and sixth. Massa would pit again. But with the final seconds counting down Michael's position was secure. He would take pole from Massa, Fisichella, Barrichello, Alonso, Villeneuve, Button, Ralf Schumacher, Raikkonen, and Heidfeld. The WilliamsF1 drivers will start the race from twelfth and nineteenth grid positions