Italy: Another Montoya Masterclass

Button edged out JV
By pitpass.com (12/09/2003)
September 13 2003

Following this morning's session we have the prospect of a weekend long battle between the three championship protagonists and their team-mates.

Furthermore the pace of the two Ferraris suggests that Bridgestone might be able to mount a late challenge at a time when it appeared that the Michelin runners were running away with the championship.

First out today, as ever, will be the World Championship leader which means that once again Michael Schumacher will get the session underway followed by Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen.

At 14:00 precisely Schumacher leaves his garage and takes to the track, around the Autodromo Nazionale the tifosi prepares to greet him, air-horns ready.

The track is surprisingly dirty following a Maserati GT race, there's dust and a lot of leaves on various parts of the track.

At the first split Schumacher posts 26.2, the German pushing hard. He's almost over-driving the car as he posts 27.8 at the second split. At the line it's 1:21.268, that's 0.2s slower than his team-mate went this morning.

Juan Pablo is next out, the Colombian posting 26.1s at the first split, he's already quicker than his nemesis. He's still faster at the second split and crosses the line at 1:20.656 to go quicker by over half-a-second.

Kimi Raikkonen is on track, the Finn kept a low profile this morning - no pun intended - yet was very impressive finishing third quickest. It's 26.3 at the first split, he's down on Montoya. At the second split he's down on Montoya and Schumacher. 1:21.933, the McLaren driver is 1.3s down on the WilliamsF1 driver.

Ralf Schumacher is next out, it was only yesterday that the German was passed fit following his crash here last week. He cuts the first chicane which means that his time is likely to be disallowed. That said he continues around to go third by one-thousandth of a second ahead of Raikkonen. However as we said his time is likely to be disallowed.

Last out before the break is Hungarian GP winner Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard is overdriving the car and loses time in both the first two sectors, even taking to the gravel at one point. 1:22.103 he goes fifth, a poor, wild lap, 1.447 slower than Montoya.

At the first break it's Montoya ahead of Michael, Ralf, Raikkonen and Alonso.

This morning's pace-setter Rubens Barrichello is next out, he won here last year and is looking quite confident this weekend.

At the first split the Brazilian posts 26.1, the Ferrari driver attacking the kerbs. At the second split it's 27.6 he's up on Montoya. He loses time at the Parabolica and consequently can only manage second with a 1:20.784, 0.128s down on Montoya.

David Coulthard is on track in the McLaren but he's erratic through the first chicane, as a result he posts 26.3 at the first split. At the second split the Scot posts 29.2, he's lost more time. Over the line it's 1:23.154, he's 2.498s off the pace. A dreadful lap.

Meanwhile it's announced that Ralf Schumacher's time has indeed been disallowed following the German's transgression at the first chicane.

Jarno Trulli is next out, he'll be keen to impress in this his home race. At the first split the Italian posts 26.5 followed by a 28s at the second. At the line the Renault driver clocks 1:22.034 to slip into fifth ahead of his team-mate.

Mark Webber had a relatively disappointing session this morning, what can he do now? It's a 26.6 at the first split for the Australian followed by a 28s at the second. At the line the Jaguar driver posts 1:21.966 - exactly the same time as Raikkonen - to go ahead of the Renaults.

Last out before the break is Jenson Button, the English youngster was seventh quickest this morning. 26.5 at the first split for the BAR driver followed by a 28.2 at the second. At the line Jenson posts 1:22.495 to go a very disappointing eighth, he lost a massive amount of time in the last sector.

At the second break it's Montoya ahead of Barrichello, Michael, Raikkonen, Webber, Trulli, Alonso, Button, Coulthard and Ralf.

Giancarlo Fisichella is next out, the Italian seems really down at present, clearly he's glad to be heading to Sauber for 2004. We wouldn't be surprised to see the Jordans qualify behind Jos Verstappen this weekend.

At the first split the Roman driver posts 26.9, he's already well off the pace. At the second split it's 28.7, he's made up a little time. At the line it's 1:24.179, that's 3.5s off the pace. Let's not forget that it was only a couple of years ago that Frentzen won here.

Cristiano da Matta is on stunning form and at the first split is quicker than Montoya, however he loses time in the second sector. At the line it's 1:21.829, he goes fourth. It was a wonderful start to the lap but he appeared to lose the most time in the second sector where there are lots of leaves on the track.

On the subject of Frentzen, the Sauber driver is next out. The German is very untidy at the first chicane, but still completes the sector in a healthy 26.2. At the second split it's 28.1 however he goes wide through Ascari and almost loses it. 1:22.203 over the line is good enough for ninth, other than the 'mistake' at Ascari that could have been a surprisingly quick lap.

Olivier Panis is next out, can he match the pace of his team-mate? At the first split the Frenchman posts 26.5, he's off the pace. At the second split he loses more time, it's 28.2 as he appears to emulate Frentzen's Ascari mistake. 1:22.372 over the line, Olivier will be disappointed that he could only manage tenth.

Last out before the break is 1997 world Champion Jacques Villeneuve. At the first split he posts 26.7 he's down on his team-mate. It's an untidy lap and as a result he posts 28.2 at the second split. 1:22.858 at the line, the Canadian goes twelfth to slot in behind his team-mate.

At the final break the order is Montoya ahead of Barrichello followed by Michael, da Matta, Raikkonen, Webber, Trulli, Alonso, Frentzen and Panis. Button is eleventh ahead of Villeneuve, Coulthard, Fisichella and Ralf.

With ten minutes remaining Nick Heidfeld takes to the track, the German has yet to find a drive for next season. At the first split the Sauber driver posts 26.5 followed by a 28.3 at the second split. At the line it's 1:22.547, Nick goes twelfth 0.3s off his team-mate's pace.

Jos the Boss should be next out but there appears to be a problem, the stewards announce that the next car out will be car number 15, which is Justin Wilson.

Wilson takes to the track the Englishman needs a good result this weekend - and a reliable car. At the first split Justin posts 27.0, it's an untidy lap, he's all over the place. At the second split the Jaguar driver posts 28.7. Over the line Wilson posts 1:23.609, only just getting ahead of Fisichella. He'll be bitterly disappointed with that, but more importantly so will his Jaguar bosses.

Nicolas Kiesa comes out as it's revealed that Verstappen had a problem with his 'black box' and couldn't get the engine started. 27.1 at the first split for the Dane followed by a 29.8 at the second. At the line the Minardi driver posts 1:26.299 to go seventeenth.

All eyes now on Zsolt Baumgartner, can he out-qualify Kiesa? At the first split the Hungarian posts 26.9 followed by a 29.2 at the second. At the line the Jordan driver posts 1:24.872 to go seventeenth.

Juan Pablo Montoya end the session quickest ahead of Barrichello, followed by Michael, da Matta, Raikkonen, Webber, Trulli, Alonso, Frentzen and Panis.

Clearly the Bridgestone-shod Ferraris are not totally overwhelmed by the Michelin runners, with the top three covered by a mere 0.6s.

A superb lap from Montoya and also form Barrichello while da Matta and Webber were also very impressive.

Renault never expected much from this weekend though seventh and eighth isn't too bad.

Coulthard will be devastated to be back in fourteenth position while Ralf really must get that first chicane right. Perhaps the German should heed his own words, in the WilliamsF1 Italian GP preview press release he says: "It is necessary to drive through the chicanes with absolute precision."


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