Heidfeld Confident of Strong Race

German Nick Heidfeld is confident of scoring his first points of the 2003 season following a strong performance in today's qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The Sauber driver will start the Sepang race from the third row of the grid after posting the sixth fastest time in Saturday's decisive qualifying session. Heidfeld, who also started from sixth place at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, feels he is in a strong position to score a good result tomorrow.

"This morning there were a couple of things about the car's set-up that I wasn't happy with, but though my lap this afternoon wasn't as smooth as yesterday's qualifying lap, I'm quite happy," said Heidfeld after qualifying.

"We improved the balance, particularly in the third sector, and I'm confident that we can do something good tomorrow starting from sixth place on the grid."

Heidfeld, however, is likely to be forced to stop for fuel one more time that his teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen in tomorrow's race. Frentzen, who qualified in 13th position, revealed the two were on different strategies.

"Obviously I was running a different strategy to Nick, and I was pleased with my lap," admitted Frentzen. "I was pretty much on the limit, the balance of the car was good, and I am on target for the strategy I was running."