Italy: Michael produces some Monza magic

Smiles at last
By pitpass.com (13/09/2003)
September 13 2003

Rubens Barrichello topped the timesheets in the fifteen minute warm up posting a best time of 1:21.633. Second quickest was Juan Pablo Montoya ahead of Button, Villeneuve, Coulthard, Raikkonen, Gene, Trulli, Alonso and Panis. Michael Schumacher was way down in nineteenth.

Marc Gene will be first out for today's qualifying session, the Spaniard standing in for Ralf Schumacher for the remainder of the weekend.

After the Spaniard we'll see Jos Verstappen, who failed to post a time yesterday, Nicolas Kiesa, Zsolt Baumgartner and Giancarlo Fisichella.

At 14:00 exactly Gene heads out of his garage and begins his 'out' lap. At the first split the WilliamsF1 tester posts 26.261, he's pushing hard. At the second split it's 54.261 as he uses every inch of track. 1:21.834, a very impressive lap, a brilliant performance.

Jos Verstappen is 7 mph slower through the speed-trap at the end of the pit straight, posting 26.870 at the first split. At the second split the Dutchman posts 56.165, and 1:25.078 over the line, he's only 3.244s off the pace.

Minardi's second driver Nicolas Kiesa is next out, the Dane posting 27.301 at the first split, he's already a second off the pace. At the second split it's 57.031 but he gets it all wrong at the exit of the Ascari chicane, he's lucky to keep it going. 1:26.778 over the line not bad, considering that mistake.

It's Zsolt Baumgartner's turn now, the Hungarian is 14 mph slower than Gene through the speed-trap. 27.312 at the first split he's a second down on the WilliamsF1. 57.056 at the second split, can he get ahead of the Minardis? 1:25.881 over the line, he goes third, 4.047s off the pace.

Last out before the break is Giancarlo Fisichella. Through the speed-trap he's 13 mph down on Gene. At the first split it's 26.756 followed by a 55.099 at the second, this is an impressive performance. Over the line the Roman posts 1:22.992, a mere 1.158s off the pace, a brilliant performance.

At the first break it's Gene ahead of Fisichella, Verstappen, Baumgartner and Kiesa.

Justin Wilson is next out, the Englishman really needs a good performance this weekend. He's an astonishing 22 mph slower than Gene through the speed-trap, going on to post 26.977 at the first split. At the second split it's 55.584 followed by a 1:23.484 to go third, but behind Fisichella.

David Coulthard begins his out lap, this is another British driver under pressure to perform. Through the speed-trap he's 0.4 mph down on Gene. It's 26.300 at the first split, he's down on Gene but it's marginal. At the second split it's 54.732, he's now 0.4s off the pace. 1:22.471 over the line, he goes second, 0.6s slower than Gene.

Another man under pressure, Jacques Villeneuve goes out. He's 10 mph slower than Gene through the speed-trap, going on to post 26.610 at the first split, he's really attacking. At the second split the Canadian posts 55.021, he's 0.7s down on the WilliamsF1. At the line it's 1:22.717, he goes third behind Gene and Coulthard.

Another driver yet to find a berth for 2004 is Nick Heidfeld, he's next up, what can the Sauber star produce? He's down on Gene by 11 mph through the speed-trap, going on to post 26.937 at the first split. The German posts 55.809 at the second split, he's now 1.5s down on Gene. Over the line he posts 1:23.803 to sixth, he'll be disappointed with that.

Last out before the break is Jenson Button in the second BAR. Through the speed-trap the English youngster is 6 mph adrift of Gene. At the first split he posts 26.528, he's looking good. At the second split it's 54.557, he's only 0.29s down on Gene. At the line it's 1:22.301, the BAR driver goes second ahead of Coulthard.

At the second break it's Gene ahead of Button, followed by Coulthard, Villeneuve, Fisichella, Wilson, Heidfeld, Verstappen, Baumgartner and Kiesa.

Olivier Panis has had a torrid day he missed much of the first session today then stopped on track at the end of the second. That said, he was seventh quickest in the second session. At the first split the Frenchman posts 26.332, he's only 0.07s down on Gene. He's pushing hard and consequently posts 54.665 at the second split, he's now 0.4s off the pace. Over the line it's 1:22.488, he goes fourth behind Gene, Button and Coulthard. Perhaps he pushed a little too hard in the second sector.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen has been looking quite good all weekend, what can the German do? He's 7 mph down on Gene through the speed-trap. At the first split it's 26.469, he's 0.2s down on Gene, followed by a 54.946 at the second split. At the line the Sauber driver clocks 1:23.216 to go seventh, two places ahead of his team-mate.

Hungarian GP winner Fernando Alonso is next out, we don't expect much of the Renaults this weekend. He gets it all wrong at the first chicane and spins but somehow he keeps going. Will he abort the lap or continue? At the second split he's 10s off the pace, he's clearly heading back to the pits resigned to the fact that he's starting from the back of the grid. The Spaniard actually completes the lap and posts a time of 1:40.405.

Team-mate Jarno Trulli is next out the Renault driver is 13 mph down on Gene through the trap. At the first split the Italian posts 26.528 followed by 54.564 at the second. Over the line the former kart World Champion posts 1:21.944 to go second. A great lap.

Last out before the final break is Mark Webber, who's not having a great weekend. Through the speed-trap he's 20 mph down on Gene. 26.854 at the first split is followed by a 55.135 at the second, he's 0.8s off the pace. At the line the Australian posts 1:22.754 to go seventh.

At the final break it's Gene ahead of Trulli, Button, Coulthard, Panis, Villeneuve, Webber, Fisichella, Frentzen and Wilson.

All eyes on the big guns as Schumacher, Raikkonen and Montoya prepare for the big shoot-out.

Raikkonen is first out, the Finn has been pretty much 'hit and miss' in qualifying this year, this is one circuit where he can't afford to get it wrong. Through the speed-trap the McLaren driver is 0.1 mpg quicker than Gene, this looks good. At the first split he posts 26.202 he's up on the Spaniard but it's marginal. At the second split it's 54.223 he's still up on the Spaniard. Over the line it's 1:21.466, he takes provisional pole by 0.368, a superb lap from the 'ice man'.

Cristiano da Matta is next out, the Brazilian 5 mph slower than Raikkonen through the speed-trap. At the first split it's 26.423, he's 0.2s down on Raikkonen. At the second split it's 54.802, he's lost a little more time. At the line it's 1:22.914, he goes ninth, where did he lose all that time? He'll be gutted, it all went wrong in that last sector.

Michael Schumacher goes out on the harder compound, which might cost him in this session but pay off in the race. At the first split it's 25.995 he's up on Raikkonen by 0.2s. He goes wide at the second of the Lesmos but it's all OK. 53.788 at the second split, he's still up on Raikkonen. 1:20.963 he goes quickest and as he crosses the line he raises his fist in celebration. A stunning lap.

Team-mate Rubens Barrichello is next out, what can the Brazilian do? 26.219 at the first split for the Ferrari driver followed by a 54.057 at the second, he's a mere 0.2s off his team-mate's pace. At the line it's 21.242 to go second - a provisional all-Ferrari front row.

All eyes on Juan Pablo Montoya, can he break Ferrari's stranglehold? He's 5 mph down on Schumacher through the speed-trap. At the first split it's 25.992, he's 0.003s up on his Ferrari rival. At the second split it's 53.712, he's still up on the German. Over the line it's 1:21.014, it's a great lap but it's not enough.. Michael Schumacher takes pole.

An electric session which is just what the sport needs - not the politicking that we've suffered in recent weeks.

Michael Schumacher takes pole ahead of Montoya, followed by Barrichello, Raikkonen, Gene, Trulli, Button, Coulthard, Panis and Villeneuve.

Four Bridgestone runners in the top ten but overall the conditions favour the Michelin runners, or do they?

Although team orders are banned, team strategy is not, and it's for sure that Marc Gene is going to be far more compliant when it comes to Montoya's title aspirations than Ralf Schumacher. That said, Rubens is up there to assist his Ferrari team-mate while both McLaren drivers are not to be written off.

Tomorrow could be a thriller, providing they get through that first corner, remember Juan Pablo and Ralf last year?

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