Qualifying: Schneider shades Aiello
Bernd Schneider (Mercedes) was the class of the field in qualifying for the final round of the DTM at Hockenheim today (Saturday) - but only just. Champion-elect Laurent Aiello (Abt Audi) failed by just 0.035secs to topple his German rival
Schneider looked in awesome form early on, but his initial half second advantage was eroded as the session developed. He didn't need to go out on his final run, however, as Aiello just failed to beat him on his final set of tyres, but Bernd did need the extra couple of hundredths on his penultimate time attack, otherwise Aiello would have beaten him.
Karl Wendlinger saved his best qualifying session of the season until last and will start third, ahead of the second Red Bull-backed car of Mattias Ekstrom. Warsteiner Mercedes twins Uwe Alzen and Marcel Fassler are next up, ahead of Martin Tomcyzk (Audi), Jean Alesi (Mercedes) and Christian Abt (Audi).
Opel once again slipped off the pace in the 45-minute qualifying session. Alain Menu salvaged 10th place, ahead of colleagues Manuel Reuter, Timo Scheider, Joachim Winkelhock, Michael Bartels and the impressive Johnny Cecotto.
That left the 2001 Mercedes to round out the tail of the field, with Christijan Albers winning this particular war ahead of Bernd Maylander, Patrick Huisman, Peter Dumbreck, Stefan Mucke and a troubled Thomas Jager, who spent most of the session off the track, rather than on it.
Bernd Schneider (D) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m35.803s
Laurent Aiello (F) Abt-Audi TT-R, 1m35.838s
Karl Wendlinger (A) Abt-Audi TT-R, 1m35.953s
Mattias Ekström (S) Abt-Audi TT-R, 1m35.963s
Uwe Alzen (D) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m36.096s
Marcel Fässler (CH) AMG Mercedes-Bend CLK, 1m36.164s
Martin Tomczyk (D) Abt-Audi TT-R, 1m36.182s
Jean Alesi (F) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m36.316s
Christian Abt (D) Abt-Audi TT-R, 1m36.335s
Alain Menu (CH) Euroteam Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m36.372s
Manuel Reuter (D) Phoenix Opel Astra V8 Coupe, 1m36.519s
Timo Scheider (D) Holzer Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m36.567s
Joachim Winkelhock (D) Phoenix Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m36.642s
Michael Bartels (D) Holzer Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m36.966s
Johnny Cecotto (YV) Eutoteam Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m37.215s
Christijan Albers (NL) Rosberg Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m37.241s
Bernd Maylander (D) Manthey Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m37.316s
Patrick Huisman (NL) Manthey Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m37.403s
Peter Dumbreck (GB) Persson Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m37.537s
Stefan Mücke (D) Rosberg Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m37.815s
Thomas Jäger (D) Persson Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m37.919s
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