Jordans to challenge front runners in qualifying?

Trulli and team mate Heinz-Harald Frentzen have visited the top three rows twice in the opening three races.

"We did a good job today," said Trulli of Friday's practice session, where he ended up ninth in the Honda-powered EJ11. "We had an interesting second session in which we got a lot of data, which will help us for qualifying and for the race.

"It is difficult to know how competitive generally we will be because we do not know what everyone else is running, like fuel loads, but we are pretty confident for tomorrow.

"In the last three races we have been competitive in qualifying and we hope to be able to do the same again. We know Ferrari, McLaren and Williams will be strong, but we want to prove that we are not so far away."

Trulli has the added the pressure of being one of two Italian drivers at the San Marino Grand Prix.

"To be honest, I am not feeling any extra pressure on me," he maintained. "It is important, because we are here in Italy, but I think more of the pressure is on Ferrari.

"I am Italian and I will be racing in my home country. There will also be a lot of support here for Italian drivers, but I will not feel the pressure."