Pleased Bridgestone Optimistic for the Race

Japanese tyre manufacturer Bridgestone were delighted with their eighth pole position of the 2002 season, courtesy of Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher.

The German five-time World Champion dominated qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix to score his first ever pole position at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Schumacher finished nearly half a second ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in the first of the Michelin-shod McLarens.

The session, however, saw only the two Bridgestone-shod Ferraris of Schumacher and teammate Rubens Barrichello making it into the top ten for the Japanse marque. Despite that, Bridgestone's technical manager Hisao Suganuma was delighted with the result and confident ahead of tomorrow's race.

"Today we saw a dominant performance by Michael on Bridgestone tyres and I am pleased with another pole position," admitted Suganuma. "Of course, other than Ferrari we are a little bit behind but two of our drivers had problems that cost them a lot of time today.

"Nevertheless, our tyres should be even better when the cars are in race trim and I am confident about tomorrow. Added to that, this is a good circuit for overtaking so the aim will be to get those cars that are further back on the grid in points-scoring positions in the race."