Button Pleased Despite No Pole

Briton Jenson Button feels confident of stopping a Ferrari from winning Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix despite missing out on pole position.

The BAR driver looked set for his second pole of the year until Ralf Schumacher in the Williams put an impressive last-gap performance to deny Button. Button still managed to outqualify World Champion Michael Schumacher in the first of the Ferraris.

The grid left Button well placed to secure his and BAR's first win, although he will be looking warily in his mirrors for signs of Renault's Jarno Trulli making one of his rocket starts.

"Ralf came along and pipped me at the end so it's made the start very difficult for me because I've got Jarno starting right behind me," said Button, who felt a slight mistake had cost him crucial time.

"I'm very pleased with my lap and a front row grid slot. Not as pleased as if I'd held on to pole but I'll settle for second," he added. "I lost a bit of time in the hairpin because I went a bit deep and locked up the front right.

"There are a couple more tenths in the car yet so to be a full second ahead of Michael is fantastic; a bit strange but great nonetheless. I'm told it will be a capacity crowd here tomorrow and I'm optimistic that we can give them something other than a Ferrari 1-2 to smile about."

Japan's Takuma Sato was quicker than BAR teammate Button through the first timed sector but blew his chances of a second front-row start in succession with a 360-degree spin at the final corner.

Sato was lucky not to hit the concrete wall but his error left him starting from 17th position.

"The car felt great in pre-qualifying and I started the final qualifying session feeling very confident," said Sato. "Sector one was very good, but I had a slide through turns six and seven, and in trying to make up time, I missed the first part of the last chicane and hit the kerb.

"I'm very annoyed with myself and I've certainly made life hard by having to start so far back down the grid. It will be a tough race for me tomorrow but this circuit has some good overtaking opportunities, so I have to be positive for tomorrow and try my best."