Qualifying: Schumacher takes pole
Michael Schumacher took pole position for tomorrow's crucial Japanese Grand Prix
The German set a time of 1.37.470 to finish ahead of McLaren's Mika Hakkinen.
Schumacher and Hakkinen both led the leaderboard during the one-hour shoot-out and at one point had set identical fastest times.
Third quickest was David Coulthard (McLaren), ahead of Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
Championship leader Eddie Irvine will start from fifth on the grid, after being forced to complete the last few minutes in his spare car.
The Ferrari driver escaped uninjured after his Ferrari hit the tyre barrier, forcing the session to be stopped for nearly ten minutes.
Olivier Panis (Prost was sixth fastest), ahead of his team-mate Jarno Trulli.
Johnny Herbert's Stewart was eighth, while Damon Hill will start his final Grand Prix from 12th spot.
Full times.
Pos |
Driver |
Team |
Time |
1 |
M Schumacher |
Ferrari |
1.37.470 |
2 |
M Hakkinen |
McLaren |
1.37.820 |
3 |
D Coulthard |
McLaren |
1.38.239 |
4 |
H-H Frentzen |
Jordan |
1.38.696 |
5 |
E Irvine |
Ferrari |
1.38.975 |
6 |
O Panis |
Prost |
1.39.623 |
7 |
J Trulli |
Prost |
1.39.644 |
8 |
J Herbert |
Stewart |
1.39.706 |
9 |
R Schumacher |
Williams |
1.39.717 |
10 |
J Alesi |
Sauber |
1.39.721 |
11 |
J Villeneuve |
BAR |
1.39.732 |
12 |
D Hill |
Jordan |
1.40.140 |
13 |
R Barrichello |
Stewart |
1.40.140 |
14 |
G Fisichella |
Benetton |
1.40.261 |
15 |
A Wurz |
Benetton |
1.40.303 |
16 |
A Zanardi |
Williams |
1.40.403 |
17 |
P Diniz |
Sauber |
1.40.740 |
18 |
R Zonta |
BAR |
1.40.861 |
19 |
T Takagi |
Arrows |
1.41.067 |
20 |
M Gene |
Minardi |
1.41.529 |
21 |
P de la Rosa |
Arrows |
1.41.708 |
22 |
L Badoer |
Minardi |
1.42.515 |
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