Heidfeld Pleased with Wet-Weather Pace

German Nick Heidfeld was happy with his pace in a very wet Nurburgring circuit in today's first qualifying for the European Grand Prix.

Heidfeld was the fastest of the drivers who were forced to run in the wet after a heavy rain began to fall in the second part of qualifying. The Sauber driver, who has scored only one point so far this season, finished more than 22 seconds off the pace in 13th position.

"Because of the heavy rain which started after the first half of the qualifying session, I had to go out on extreme wet weather tyres but still had to struggle like several other drivers before and after me with serious aquaplaning on the track," said Heidfeld.

"Nevertheless, I think I made the most of it under those very difficult conditions. Having finished 13th is quite a good result given those circumstances, given that this was quickest in the rainy conditions."

Sauber teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen wound up three positions ahead of Heidfeld after completing his lap on a mostly dry track.

"On the whole it was a good lap until the final sector," he explained. "The two previous sectors were good, but by the third it had begun to rain and the last chicane was quite slippery already and therefore difficult. I probably lost four tenths of a second in that sector."