Europe: Final qualifying lap by lap

By pitpass.com (29/05/2004)
May 29 2004

Final qualifying now starts at the Nurburgring, and the air temperature is 19 degrees C, while track temperature has risen to 40 degrees.

Gianmaria Bruni begins his out lap, having ignored the red lights at the pitlane exit. At the first split the Italian posts 30.4 followed by a 39.6 at the second. At the line the Minardi driver posts 1:34.022, to set the 'benchmark'.

Baumgartner posts 30.831 at the first split, followed by a 1:10.455 at the second. At the line the Hungarian posts 1:34.398.

Nick Heidfeld is on track in the Jordan, the German posting a 30.062s at the first split. At the second split he posts 1:08.417, he's quickest by 1.7s. At the line it's 1:31.604, provisional pole. A good lap from the German.

Teammate Giorgio Pantano is next out. At the4 first split the Italian posts 30.089, he's down on Heidfeld by 0.027, extremely marginal. At the second split it's 1:08.510, he's still down but only just. At the line the German posts 1:31.979 to go second.

Last out before the break is Felipe Massa, who appeared to have a problem in the first session. At the first split it's 30.113s, followed by a 1:08.560 at the second, he's down on Heidfeld. At the line the Sauber posts 1:31.982, which puts him third.

At the first break, the order is; Heidfeld, Pantano, Massa, Bruni and Baumgartner.

Jaguar's Christian Klien exits the pitlane to get the next phase underway. At the first split the Austrian posts 29.971, he's quickest thus far. At the second split the Jaguar driver posts 1:08.243, that's 0.174 up on Heidfeld. At the line the Austrian posts 1:31.431 to take provisional pole.

Teammate Mark Webber is next out, the Australian will have one second added to his time following yesterday's misdemeanour. At the first split the Jaguar star posts 29.827, he's up on his teammate by 0.144s. At the second split it's 1:07.464, that's 0.778s up on the Austrian. At the line it's 1:30.797, provisional pole, a mid-gird spot is the best he can really hope for is eleventh.

Monaco winner Jarno Trulli is next out, the Renaults have been somewhat disappointing this weekend. At the first split it's 29.180 for the Italian, he's already 0.6s up on Webber. At the second split it's 1:06.319, that's 1.1s quicker than Webber. At the line it's 1:29.135, a strong lap from the silent man.

Giancarlo Fisichella is next out, the Italian is another driver to be penalised by ten grid slots. Unfortunately Sauber decide to take advantage of the current regulations and push the car straight to parc ferme.

Cristiano da Matta goes out, the Brazilian completing the first sector in 29.416, 0.236s down on Trulli. At the second split the Brazilian posts 1:06.905, he's now 0.5s down on the Italian. At the line it's 1:29.706, which puts the Toyota second.

At the second break it's; Trulli, da Matta, Webber, Klien, Heidfeld, Pantano, Massa, Bruni, Baumgartner and Fisichella.

Olivier Panis is next out, the Frenchman scoring his first point of the year last weekend. At the first split the Frenchman posts 29.471, he's down by 0.291s. At the second split it's 1:06.821, he loses a little ground. At the line it's 1:29.697, as he leapfrogs his Toyota teammate.

Juan Pablo Montoya is on track in the WilliamsF1. The Colombian completes the first sector in 29.250s, he's 0.070s down on Trulli. At the second split it's 1:06.467, he loses more time to the Italian. At the line it's 1:29.354, which puts him second but 0.219s off the pace.

Fernando Alonso is next out, the Renault driver keen to get a result this weekend. At the first split it's 29.292, he's already 0.112s down on his teammate. At the second split the Spaniard posts 1:06.498, he's 0.180s down now. At the line it's 1:29.313, 1-2 for the French team, but will it last?

The first of the Ferraris come out, it's Rubens Barrichello. The Brazilian completes the first sector in 29.225, he's down but it's marginal, 0.045s. At the second split it's 1:06.513, he's now 0.195s off the pace. At the line the Ferrari driver posts 1:29.353 which puts him behind the two Renaults, who in all honesty are not that quick this weekend.

Kimi Raikkonen is on track, the Finn really needs a result, as do McLaren. At the first split it's 29.273, he's 0.093s down on Trulli. At the second split it's 1:06.527, he's now 0.209s down on the Italian. At the line it's 1:29.137, her splits the two Renaults.

At the final break the order is; Trulli ahead of Raikkonen, Alonso, Barrichello, Montoya, Panis, da Matta, Webber, Klien and Heidfeld.

All eyes on Jenson Button as the Englishman gets the final phase of the session underway. At the first split the BAR driver posts 29.252, he's 0.072 down on Trulli. At the second split it's 1:06.478, he's now 0.160s down on the Renault. At the line it's 1:29.245 which puts him third, he'll be disappointed, and rightly so.

David Coulthard won't run, his car is pushed down to parc ferme, as Ralf Schumacher prepares to go out.

The German completes the first sector in 29.410, he's already 0.230s down on Trulli. It's not a good lap, very cautious. At the second split it's 1:06.756, he's now 0.438s down on the Italian. At the line the German posts 1:29.459, which puts him a disappointing seventh with Michael and Sato still to run.

Michael completes the first sector in 28.940, he's already up on Trulli by 0.240s. At the second split it's 1:05.735, he's up by 0.583s. The Ferrari crosses the line at 1:28.351, taking pole by 0.784, a superb lap from the six-time World Champion.

All eyes on Takuma Sato, can he become the first Japanese driver to start from pole position. At the first split it's 29.082, he's 0.142s down on the German. At the second split it's 1:06.168, he's now 0.434s down on the Ferrari. At the line it's 1:28.986, he goes second. A brilliant lap from the much underrated, and unfairly criticised Japanese racer, even Jean Todt is impressed.

As a result of the various penalties it's going to be a jumbled grid with David Coulthard starting back with Fisichella and the Minardis, while Webber will start behind Heidfeld.

Pole number 60 for Michael Schumacher, who despite the 'false alarm' yesterday appears to be back in the groove.

A stunning lap from Takuma Sato which he will hopefully convert into a podium position tomorrow, while Jarno Trulli and Kimi Raikkonen were also superb. Although he's starting from fifth it would be senseless to write off Button, while Alonso is also 'in the mix'. Sadly the two WilliamsF1s were never threatening.

The earlier predictions of rain now appear to have been somewhat premature, however this is a bizarre region, climatically speaking. In all honesty, judging by his performance in this session, and taking into consideration his previous form, only a fool would bet against Michael Schumacher making it win number 76 and adding another ten points to his tally.

Only a fool… or perhaps a good Eifel cloudburst.

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