Britain: Mixed fortunes for BAR in qualifying

JV drove to ninth
By pitpass.com (19/07/2003)
July 19 2003

With an air temperature of 24 degrees, a track temperature of 35 degrees, blue skies and bright sunshine it looks as though Michelin will be dominating this afternoon's qualifying session, though Ferrari are sure to mount a serious challenge on Bridgestone's behalf.

First out is Minardi's Justin Wilson who failed to post a time yesterday due to an ignition problem. At the first split it's 28.084 for the Englishman followed by a 1:03.902 at the second, this is not a good lap for the youngster. At the line it's 1:25.468, he'll be bitterly disappointed.

Next out is Rubens Barrichello who also failed to post a time yesterday having spun off at Brooklands. At the first split the Brazilian posts 26.313, he's already 1.7s up on Wilson. At the second split it's 1:00.439, that's 3.4s up on the Minardi. Over the line at 1:21.209 Rubens takes provisional pole, that looked to be a very, very good lap.

Next out is Dutch superstar Jos Verstappen. At the first split the Minardi star posts 28.098 he's actually down on his team-mate. The PS03 is all over the place it's a real beast. 1:03.917 at the second split and 1:25.759 over the line to go third.

Ralph Firman is next out, Jordan need a result this weekend. At the first split the Anglo-Irish driver posts 27.660 followed by a 1:03.136 at the second. 1:24.385 over the line Ralph's second but a whopping 3.176s off the pace.

Last out before the first break is the second Jordan driver Giancarlo Fisichella. He records 27.553 at the first split, he's slightly up on his team-mate. At the second split it's 1:02.457 he's made up quite a bit of time. 1:23.574 over the line, the Roman goes second.

At the first break it's Barrichello, Fisichella, Firman, Wilson and Verstappen.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen is next out, in recent days the German has been vigorously denying rumours that he's contemplating retirement at the end of the season. At the first split the Sauber star posts 26.945 followed by a 1:02.075 at the second. The German is working hard yet goes second with a 1:23.187, a solid lap from Heinz-Harald.

Team-mate Nick Heidfeld is next out, what can he do? 27.218 at the first split, like Frentzen Heidfeld is working hard. At the second split it's 1:02.527 and 1:23.844 to go fourth out-qualified by his team-mate for the fifth time this season.

Next it's Jacques Villeneuve who had major engine problems this morning, the Canadian is very unhappy especially with the performance of the Bridgestones. At the first split he posts 26.857 followed by a 1:01.641 at the second, this is a good lap lots of commitment. 1:22.591 the Canadian goes second, a great performance from the 1997 world Champion.

Kimi Raikkonen is next up, this is one qualifying session that the Finn has to get right. 26.479 at the first split, he's 0.14s down on Barrichello. At the second split he posts 1:00.657 he's now 0.218s down on the Ferrari. Over the line at 1:21.695 to go second by 0.486s.

Antonio Pizzonia is next, other than the Minardis the Brazilian is the only driver that hasn't scored a point this season. At the first split it's 27.021 followed by a 1:01.489 at the second. At the line it's 1:22.634 to go fourth, a pretty good lap from the Jaguar driver.

At the second break the order is Barrichello ahead of Raikkonen, Villeneuve, Pizzonia, Frentzen, Fisichella, Heidfeld, Firman, Wilson and Verstappen.

Toyota's Cristiano da Matta takes to the track, the Japanese cars have been pretty good this weekend. At the first split the Brazilian posts 26.844 he's already half-a-second down on his countryman. At the second split it's 1:01.149 followed by a 1:22.081 to go third leap-frogging Villeneuve.

Jenson Button is next to go, his bench mark is 1:22.591, the time posted by his Canadian team-mate. At the first split the English youngster posts 28.847 as the car slows dramatically, he appears to have a front suspension problem following a difference of opinion with one of the kerbs, the BAR nightmare continues.

Jaguar's Mark Webber is next out much is expected of the Australian this weekend. At the first split he posts 26.771, he's 0.458s down on Barrichello. At the second split it's 1:01.602 followed by a 1:22.647 to go sixth, he'll be unhappy with that.

David Coulthard, who has won this race twice, is next out, the Scot hasn't been on the podium since Melbourne, where he won. At the first split the Scot posts 26.672 he's 0.259 down on the Ferrari. At the second split the McLaren star posts 1:01.620, he's lost a whole heap of time in that sector. At the line it's 1:22.811 to go seventh, another poor qualifying performance from DC.

Jarno Trulli is next to go, the Italian posting 26.577 at the first split, 0.264 off Barrichello's time. At the second split the Renault star posts 1:00.662, he's still 0.223 off Rubens' time. 1:21.381 is good enough to put Jarno in second position, a great lap.

At the third break it's still Barrichello quickest ahead of Trulli, Raikkonen, da Matta, Villeneuve, Pizzonia, Webber, Coulthard, Frentzen and Fisichella.

Olivier Panis is next out, the Frenchman has been very impressive this weekend after some disastrous bad luck earlier in the season. At the first split Olivier posts 26.801, he's 0.488s down on Barrichello. 1:01.224 at the second split, he's now 0.7s down on the Ferrari. Over the line at 1:23.042 to go ninth, he lost a massive amount of time in the final sector.

Fernando Alonso takes to the track, his benchmark is 1:21.381 his team-mate's time. At the first split he posts 26.980 he's already 0.6s down on Barrichello. 1:01.327 at the second split, it's not a good lap. 1:22.404 over the line to go fifth over a second slower than Trulli.

Ralf Schumacher is next out as the wind appears to be building. At the first split the German posts 26.660 he's 0.347s down on Barrichello, can he make it up? At the second split he posts 1:00.770, he's still 0.3s off the pace. At the line it's 1:21.727 to take fourth, he gave it 101% but he and the FW25 simply couldn't deliver.

Team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya is next out, the Colombian has been looking very good thus far this weekend. At the first split it's 26.654 like Ralf he's 0.3s down on the Ferrari. Juan-Pablo is clearly working very hard as he posts 1:01.0978 at the second split, he's lost more time. At the line it's 1:22.214 which is only good enough for sixth, 1.004s off the pace.

All eyes on World Champion Michael Schumacher, can he join Rubens on the front row? At the first split the German posts 26.307 he's 0.006 up on his fellow Ferrari driver. At the second split it's 1:00.490 after going wide, a silly mistake with which he'll be rightly angry. Over the line it's 1:21.867 which puts him fifth between his brother and Cristiano da Matta.

Rubens Barrichello starts from pole for the first time since Brazil, ahead of Trulli, Raikkonen, Ralf, Michael, da Matta, Montoya, Alonso, Villeneuve and Pizzonia.

Coulthard will be disappointed with his lap as will Webber and Panis, as for poor Jenson Button..

An interesting grid and Ferrari will certainly be lifted by Barrichello's performance, as will Renault with Trulli's.

The high-speed run to Copse should see a mad scramble.. we look forward to it.


This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.