Pre-qual: JPM to the fore
Juan Pablo Montoya set the fastest time ahead of qualifying for the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim on Saturday as Williams-BMW bids to win its first race in 12 months. Michelin-tyred cars dominated but, perhaps more surprisingly, Sauber outpaced Ferrari on Bridgestones
Montoya lapped his FW26 in 1m13.391s, just 0.031secs quicker than Ralf Schumacher/Marc Gene replacement Antonio Pizzonia, who was faster than JPM through sectors one and two. BAR's Jenson Button was next up, the Briton having set the pace this morning.
Fernando Alonso was a surprise fourth fastest for Renault, which has struggled to get on the pace this weekend, while Jarno Trulli and Olivier Panis (Toyota) split the McLarens of David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen, which were fifth and eighth respectively.
The big shock was that Sauber beat the Ferraris for outright pace. Felipe Massa was ninth, ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella. The Ferraris of championship leader Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello could only manage 11th and 12th respectively, although they are understood to be using a completely different compound of Bridgestone tyres this weekend.
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