Coulthard Plays Down Victory Chances

McLaren driver David Coulthard says both his and Michael Schumacher's chances of winning the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday look dim after qualifying on the third row of the grid.

Coulthard will start from sixth with Schumacher, chasing a record equalling sixth win in Monte Carlo, one place ahead in fifth after both were outperformed by polesitter Ralf Schumacher.

Monaco resident Coulthard, who won the event last year after starting from second place on the grid, believes himself and Schumacher are unlikely to be contenders for victory.

"It is no big deal starting alongside Michael," said Coulthard at the end of the session. "In Monaco it's all about who gets to the first corner first. Once you get off the second row, it is difficult to win.

"Strategy-wise, I'm running the same as Kimi (Raikkonen) and he got a cleaner lap and because of that I will need to stop earlier to not create a problem for him so a podium finish is possible."

Coulthard's teammate Kimi Raikkonen was narrowly denied pole position after Ralf Schumacher bettered his time by three-hundredths of a second.

"To start from the front row in Monaco is very important, so second is good and I'm looking forward to an exciting race tomorrow," said the Finn. "However I'm a bit disappointed not to get pole position as like in Austria two weeks ago I was extremely close, but I guess it will be my time sooner or later.

"In hindsight perhaps I hit the kerb a bit too hard at the Swimming Pool chicane so I lost some time there. Monaco is a place where experience is important and I feel more comfortable here this year than last year. Now we will see what happens tomorrow."