Coulthard on Pole; Qualifying Results - German GP

Coulthard takes Hockenheim pole

In what turned out to be a roll of the dice against ever changing track conditions, it was David Coulthard who came up with a double-six during the hour's qualifying for the German Grand Prix, the McLaren-Mercedes driver taking the tenth pole of his career and his second of the season by a massive 1.366s margin over his nearest rival. "I had some luck getting a clear track on the important middle section of the lap and I caught the track conditions just right which accounts for the big gap between us," said David. He had set his time, like most of the others, in the first 10 minutes of practice before a heavy downpour ruined and chances of going faster until the final minutes of the session.

Mika Hakkinen was fourth fastest, his hopes of taking a last moment front row spot spoiled when he caught a rain shower on the last couple of corners of the lap.

Schumacher a brilliant second

Even Michael Schumacher was convinced he would have to settle for fourth place after his first run in the dry, the German running his spare car for qualifying following his accident in the morning. However, he took to the track with 10 minutes to go and timed a quick run just at the right moment to take the second fastest time on the grid. "I didn't expect to be there," he said later. "I was right on the limit and close to going off the track. We have had quite a competitive car all weekend and I am quite confident for the race," he added.

Rubens Barrichello was struggling to make the grid. An engine electrical problem saw him stop on the track on his out lap. He had to wait to take Schumacher's repaired morning chassis and did well to set a time in the conditions that eventually saw him take 18th place on the grid, his best lap spoiled by traffic.

Fisichella takes a fortunate third

Giancarlo Fisichella thought his luck had run out when he spun on his first flying lap and had to sprint back to the pits for the spare car. It wasn't geared right or a comfortable fit, but he went out again while the rest of the field waited for the track to dry out more and as a result he set his best lap just seconds before the rain started again, holding second place until Schumacher pushed him to third just seconds from the end of the session. Wurz also lucked out on the timing and claimed seventh place.

de la Rosa does it right

Pedro de la Rosa got a good lap when it counted to claim fifth place for the Arrows team. Jos Verstappen's hopes of matching his time were spoiled when he had to sit through the best part of the session while the team fixed a starter motor problem.

Mixed fortunes for Jordan

Jarno Trulli took what was to be sixth place for Jordan in his opening run, but Heinz Harald Frentzen found himself out of the race after his first run time was disqualified for missing the chicane when he tried to get a clear track and pass two cars on his out lap. He had to set his best time at the end of the session and managed 17th, just ahead of Barrichello.

In brief...

Villeneuve ended up ninth after a spin on what would have been his quickest lap at the start of the session. He finished the session in the T-car, but did not improve. Marc Gene was lucky to make the grid after going off on wet tyres. He took the t-car but had engine problems with that and made the cut-off limit by 1/1000th of a second!

Pos Driver Team Times 1. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:45.697 232.457 km/h 2. M.Schumacher Ferrari 1:47.063 + 1.366 3. Fisichella Benetton Playlife 1:47.130 + 1.433 4. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 1:47.162 + 1.465 5. de la Rosa Arrows Supertec 1:47.786 + 2.089 6. Trulli Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:47.833 + 2.136 7. Wurz Benetton Playlife 1:48.037 + 2.340 8. Herbert Jaguar Cosworth 1:48.078 + 2.381 9. Villeneuve BAR Honda 1:48.121 + 2.424 10. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth 1:48.305 + 2.608 11. Verstappen Arrows Supertec 1:48.321 + 2.624 12. Zonta BAR Honda 1:48.665 + 2.968 13. Heidfeld Prost Peugeot 1:48.690 + 2.993 14. R.Schumacher Williams BMW 1:48.841 + 3.144 15. Salo Sauber Petronas 1:49.204 + 3.507 16. Button Williams BMW 1:49.215 + 3.518 17. Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:49.280 + 3.583 18. Barrichello Ferrari 1:49.544 + 3.847 19. Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:49.936 + 4.239 20. Alesi Prost Peugeot 1:50.289 + 4.592 21. Mazzacane Minardi Fondmetal 1:51.611 + 5.914 22. Gene Minardi Fondmetal 1:53.094 + 7.397 All Timing Unofficial