Montoya Confident of Strong Race Pace

Juan Pablo Montoya is confident Williams-BMW can take the fight to BAR-Honda and Ferrari at Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix after qualifying third behind front-row pair Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher.

Colombian Montoya finished fastest in the opening qualifying session but was unable to keep his spot and dropped to third in the final single-lap run. However, he revealed his team made a tactical decision to add fuel to his car between sessions.

"We took little fuel in the first qualifying because we wanted to run last and as you see, the track got better and it worked quite well for us," said Montoya, who is yet to qualify on the front row this season.

"I think we've got a very good race car. I was actually lacking pace on new tyres and with the work we did it seemed to come to me a little bit. I'm very pleased to be honest. I think we have a very strong race car.

"It will be interesting to see what happens really with Jenson - I think it's going to be a close battle. He put up a lot of good laps today but I think in the race it's going to be a lot closer.

"The track was getting so much quicker and then you see Jenson's time and you go, like: 'Jesus Christ! Where am I going to pull the time.' He did a bloody good job but I definitely think we're in the game."