McLaren to Rely on 'Creative Strategy'

McLaren boss Ron Dennis says his team will need a creative strategy to score significant points in tomorrow's Canadian Grand Prix.

"The outcome of today's qualifying will require creative strategy by the team if we are to leave Canada with significant points finishes," said Dennis. "However we have faced similar challenges before and the team and the drivers have proved their ability to respond."

Kimi Raikkonen skidded off at the end of the start-finish straight on his flying lap and will start from the back of the grid. He then struggled to get the car off the waterlogged grass runoff, the rear wheels spinning wildly, before parking up.

The Finn leads Michael Schumacher by four points in the standings after seven races, but the German is the master of Montreal, with five wins in nine years.

Sunday will be the third time this season that the 23-year-old Raikkonen has started at the back of the grid or from the pitlane after qualifying problems and he has managed to finish on the podium six times.

"Of course I'm disappointed with today's qualifying. I ran wide at the first corner as I had a bit more understeer than in warm up which I wasn't prepared for," said the Finn. "The exit of the corner was very slippery and I hit the kerb and went off the track.

"I'm not sure yet how much damage was done to the car, but I don't expect it to be too much. I don't know what will happen in the race tomorrow but I know that anything is possible and that we will all do our best."

His British teammate David Coulthard, winner in Australia, starts in 11th place.

"I'm not happy with my qualifying position. I suffered from oversteer coming into the last chicane and lost about half a second," said the Scot. "I think that without that I would definitely be further up the grid. However there is nothing I can do about it now and I will focus on tomorrow's race."