USA: All red front row, but it's Rubens on top.

By pitpass.com (19/06/2004)
June 19 2004

As Zsolt Baumgartner prepares to go out and get the main qualifying session underway, the ambient temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 46 degrees.

Baumgartner exits the pits at 13:00 precisely, the session is on. The Hungarian posts 23.2 at the first split, followed by a 30.6 at the second. The Minardi driver is working hard, crossing the line at 1:14.812, which is the slowest he's been today. A poor lap from Zsolt.

Next out is his Minardi teammate Gianmaria Bruni. At the first split the Italian posts 22.9, he's 0.3s up on Zsolt. At the second split the Minardi driver posts 30.6, followed by a 1:14.010, he's 0.8s quicker than his teammate.

Next out is Nick Heidfeld in the Jordan. At the first split it's 22.7, followed by a 30.1 at the second. Judging by the flags, there's a strong wind blowing, which won't help matters. At the line it's 1:13.147, he goes quickest.

Nick's teammate Giorgio Pantano is the fourth driver to go out. At the first split the Italian posts 22.7, he's 0.2s down on Heidfeld. At the second split it's 30.2 as he continues to lose time. At the line it's 1:13.375, he goes second to Heidfeld by 0.228s.

Last out before the break is Christian Klien. He's quickest in the first sector, posting 22.2. He's quickest again in sector two, the Austrian posting 29.8 at the split. At the line it's 1:12.170, the Jaguar driver takes provisional pole.

At the break it's Klien ahead of Heidfeld, Pantano, Bruni and Baumgartner.

Next out is Mark Webber, who has a latest-spec engine in his Jaguar this weekend, can he outpace his teammate though? At the first split the Australian posts 22s, that's quickest so far. At the second split it's 29.3, he's quickest again, it's a very good lap, thus far. At the line it's 1:11.286, provisional pole, which quite rightly brings applause from his crew.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen is next out, the Finn was on pole here last year. He posts 22.1 at the first split, followed by a 29.2 at the second, quickest so far in that sector. At the line it's 1:11.137, as he goes quickest again in the final sector. Other than the first sector it was a pretty amazing lap.

At the first split Felipe Massa posts 22.5, as he locks up at a couple of corners, he's pushing far too hard. At the second split it's 30.3, he's lost a heap of time. At the line it's 1:12.721, good enough for fourth, but all-in-all a poor lap.

David Coulthard is next out can he out-pace his teammate? At the first split the Scot posts 22.2, he's only marginally off the pace. At the second split it's 29.8, as he loses a whole load of time, having locked up at turn eight. At the line it's 1:12.026, which puts him third.

Last out before the second break is Giancarlo Fisichella in the second Sauber. At the first split the Italian posts 22.5, which isn't too bad, and certainly up on his teammate. He's very aggressive, particularly at turn eight, completing the sector in 29.9. At the line it's 1:12.470, which puts him fourth, an excellent lap from 'Fisi'.

At the second break, it's Raikkonen ahead of Webber, Coulthard, Klien, Fisichella, Massa, Heidfeld, Pantano, Bruni and Baumgartner.

Jarno Trulli is next out, however it takes the combined efforts of several mechanics to get him going. There's clearly a problem, the Renault is crawling around the track, the gearbox sounds horrendous. The Italian perseveres and despite the initial problems is going to go for it. The car appears to be changing down by itself, how frustrating for the Renault driver.

Michael Schumacher is on track as Trulli appears to have a cat trapped in the car, that's how bad the Renault sounds.

At the first split Schumacher posts 21.4, he's quickest so far by almost 0.7s. At the second split the German posts 29.4, he lost a little time. At the line it's 1:10.400, he takes provisional pole by 0.737. It was an untidy lap, especially the second sector, but effective.

Jenson Button is on track, the BAR driver posting 21.7 at the first split, 0.3s down on Schumacher. At the second split it's 29.2, he's quickest so far in that sector. At the line it's 1:10.820, he seemed to lose time in the final sector. The Englishman goes second.

Cristiano da Matta is next out. At the first split the Brazilian posts 22.2, he's off the pace but looking good for a top ten qualifying position. At the second split it's 29.5, as the Toyota driver loses a little ground. At the line it's 1:11.691, he goes fifth, 1.291s off the pace.

Last out before the final break is Fernando Alonso. At the first split the Spaniard posts 22s, he's already 0.6s off the pace. At the second split the Renault driver posts 29.2, he's pulled back a little time. At the line it's 1:11.185, he goes fourth behind Raikkonen.

At the final break it's Michael ahead of Button, Raikkonen, Alonso, Webber, da Matta, Coulthard, Klien, Fisichella and Massa.

Montreal pole-man Ralf Schumacher is next out, can he repeat the feat here at Indianapolis.

At the first split the German posts 21.8, he's already 0.5s down on Michael, he's really having to fight the FW26. At the second split it's 29.5, he's made up a little time. At the line it's 1:11.106, he goes third ahead of Raikkonen.

All eyes on Takuma Sato, what can he do? At the first split the BAR driver posts 21.7, he's down on Michael but up on Button. At the second split the Japanese driver posts 29, he's up on Michael. At the line it's 1:10.601, he goes second to Michael by 0.201s. A great lap from Takuma.

Olivier Panis is next out, the Frenchman has been quite impressive this weekend. At the first split it's 21.9, followed by a 29.3 at the second, he's only marginally off the pace. At the line it's 1:11.167, which puts him sixth, 0.767s off the pace.

All eyes on Juan Pablo Montoya, can he do what Ralf couldn't? At the first split the Colombian posts 21.8, he's already 0.5s down on Schumacher (Michael). At the second split it's 29.3, he's made up a little time, but not enough. At the line it's 1:11.062, which puts him fourth.

Therefore there is only one man that can knock Michael off pole, his teammate Rubens Barrichello. At the first split the Ferrari driver posts 21.6, he's 0.2s down on Michael. At the second split it's 29, he's made up time. At the line it's 1:10.223, he takes pole position - his first since Japan 2003 - from his teammate by 0.177s.

The third Ferrari lock-out of the season, and interestingly the last time Rubens started from pole, he went on to win the race. Indeed other than this morning's second free-practice session, the Brazilian has been quickest in every session this weekend.

Behind the two Ferraris, we have the two BARs of Sato and Button, followed by the WilliamsF1s of Montoya and Ralf.

After that the grid symmetry ends, with Raikkonen seventh ahead of Panis, Alonso and Webber.

Eleventh quickest is da Matta who is followed by Coulthard, Klien, Fisichella, Massa, Heidfeld, Pantano, Bruni, Baumgartner and Trulli.

Thanks to the width of the track here, we should see a great race to the first corner, with cars running four or five abreast.

Trulli's problems in qualifying are clear proof that Renault still has problems, while the McLaren are still out of the picture.

The WilliamsF1 are up there and can hopefully build on Canada - but without the controversy - while hopefully the BARs will give the red cars a run for their money.

That said, it's more than likely that we'll be hearing Fratelli d'Italia tomorrow afternoon, thing is, will it be preceded by Das Lied der Deutschen or Hino Nacional Brasileiro?

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