Button Happy to be Ahead of the Renaults

BAR driver Jenson Button was happy to qualify in front of rivals Renault ahead of tomorrow's Chinese Grand Prix.

BAR and Renault are fighting for second place in a Championship already won by Ferrari, with the Honda-powered team three points ahead. Button qualified in third place while Renault's Fernando Alonso was sixth, with teammate Jacques Villeneuve in 13th.

"I had a good lap so I'm pleased to be starting the race from the second row of the grid," said Button. "I don't think we could have got much more out of the car and I was particularly pleased with the last sector. The car is working very well and I think we have a good set-up and strategy for tomorrow.

"The important thing is that we have qualified well ahead of the Renaults which was our immediate target, so that gives us a good advantage off the line. Generally I'm looking forward to racing here for the first time tomorrow in what should be a very interesting Grand Prix."

Button finished third at the last race, in Italy, and the closest he has come to victory this season was in the San Marino Grand Prix in April, where he qualified on pole position but lost out to Michael Schumacher in the pitstops and had to settled for second.

Button is almost certain of claiming third in the Championship as fourth-placed Jarno Trulli has been dropped by Renault and fifth-placed Renault driver Fernando Alonso is currently 26 points behind.

Button's performance raised BAR's spirits after an engine failure in practice cost Japanese team mate Takuma Sato 10 places on the grid. Sato was ninth fastest but will be battling at the back after the penalty.

"It was a difficult day as we lost the whole of the second session yesterday, so I think that the team has done a really good job on all the requests for the set-up of the car," said Sato. "We have done the best that we could today and with a 10-position penalty we have had to work on our strategy to see how the best can be made of these difficult circumstances.

"Of course I am a little disappointed, but the circuit looks as though there will be some good overtaking opportunities, so overall I believe we should be in a strong position for the race tomorrow."