Japanese Grand Prix qualifying

608BST: Hakkinen spins off after touching Alesi, but recovers in time to start last lap.

606BST: Hakkinen exits pit, followed By Eddie Irvine (in spare Ferrari) and Michael Schumacher.

604BST: Four minutes remain. Herbert moves up to eighth.

601BST: Qualifying session resumes.

556BST: Eddie Irvine returns to pits and may continue in spare car. The session remains suspended.

553BST: Session stopped as marshals attempt to repair tyre barriers following Irvine's crash. All drivers currently within 107 per cent of pole position time. Top six: Michael Schumacher, Hakkinen, Coulthard, Irvine, Frentzen, Panis.

551BST: Eddie Irvine survives big crash, which rips both front wheels off Ferrari. Irvine is not hurt, but looks unlikely to complete any more qualifying laps.
Michael Schumacher back on pole (1.37.470)

549BST: Mika Hakkinen leaves pits. Michael Schumacher starts fast lap.

548BST: Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine exit pit roads.

545BST: Hakkinen takes provisional pole (1.37.820).

542BST: Michael Schumacher goes faster still, setting a time of 1.37.879.

539BST: Top six: M Schumacher, Hakkinen, Coulthard, Irvine, Frentzen, Panis.

537BST: Irvine exits pits for second time.

535BST: Coulthard records quickest time, but remains third.

534BST: Ralf Schumacher yet to post quick lap, following earlier crash.

532BST: Mika Hakkinen equals the time of Michael Schumacher, but remains second because Schumacher sets time first.

530BST: Mika Hakkinen (McLaren) begins fast lap. Top four after 30 mins: M Schumacher, Coulthard, Irvine, Frentzen.

529BST: Michael Schumacher goes quickest (1.38.032), Irvine moves up to third (1.38.975).

528BST: Damon Hill moves up to fifth (1.40.7).

525BST: Both Ferraris leave pits.

523BST: Michael Schumacher, Eddie Irvine (both Ferrari) and Mika Hakkinen (McLaren) remain in pits.

521BST: Rubens Barrichello (Stewart) moves into third (1.40.455).

520BST: David Coulthard goes quickest (1.38.871).

519BST: Ralf Schumacher crashes into tyre barriers, but escapes uninjured.

518BST: Jarno Trulli goes second (1.40.561), despite plumes of smoke coming from engine.

516BST: Alex Wurz records time of 1.41.079. Eddie Irvine prepares to leave pits.

515BST: Heinz-Harald Frentzen sets quickest time of 1.39.405.

513BST: Pedro Diniz (Sauber) exits pits to begin qualifying session. Zanardi sets time of 1.41.079.

511BST: Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Jordan) prepares to go out, along with Alex Wurz (Benetton).

510BST: Tora Takagi (Arrows) out on track.

509BST: Alex Zanardi (Williams) begins 'out' lap. No other drivers on track.

507BST: Marc Gene completes three laps, setting a fast time of 1.42.642.

500BST: Marc Gene (Minardi) the first driver out at Suzuka