BAR Look to Sato after Button Blown Away

BAR looked to Takuma Sato to shine in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix after Briton Jenson Button's hopes were blown away in qualifying.

Sato made Formula One history at the Circuit de Catalunya on Saturday by qualifying third on the grid - the highest position yet for any Japanese driver.

He could have been on the front row, had Williams's Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya not pipped him to the spot alongside Ferrari's World Champion Michael Schumacher.

The 27-year-old Sato now has a chance to set a benchmark for his country, home to some of the world's automotive giants including the team's engine partners Honda, by surpassing the achievement of Aguri Suzuki.

Suzuki finished third in a Lola Lamborghini at the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix.

"Certainly this is the target," said Sato. "If you qualify third you expect a podium finish and that is really hard, I would imagine, because I have never done that."

Sato has a definite chance on Sunday at a circuit that has historically rewarded the best qualifiers. No driver has ever won a Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya from lower than third place on the grid.

Indeed, with the exception of 1996, the winner since 1991 has always been one of the two drivers on the front row.

"I am delighted that Taku has done such a good job translating his winter testing form into this terrific performance today," said BAR boss David Richards. "I think he has shown in his short history with the team that he is not easily intimidated by the top names."

While Sato kept the BAR flag flying after three successive podiums for Button, his British teammate recognised that Sunday would not be his day after he had been tipped as a possible race winner.

"My lap was very disappointing," he said after running wide on to the grass at turn seven, partly due to pushing too hard in gusting wind, and qualifying 14th.

"Takuma is clearly in a great position for the race but Jenson will have a lot of work to do tomorrow," added technical director Geoff Willis. "Our target as always is to get both cars in the points and one on the podium."