Raikkonen 'Very Confident' for the Race

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen was pleased after qualifying on the front row for tomorrow's inaugural Chinese Grand Prix.

Raikkonen, overall runner-up to Michael Schumacher last season, was just 0.166 of a second off Rubens Barrichello's pace and sounded confident of doing well in a key race for all the major carmakers as they seek to impress a rapidly growing market.

"We have been pretty strong the whole weekend," he said. "I just made a small mistake on the last corner but I'm very confident for the race."

Raikkonen said, however, his car was not fast enough to allow him to challenge for pole. Ferrari driver Barrichello claimed the top spot after Raikkonen made a small mistake in the final corner of the new Shanghai International Circuit on Saturday afternoon.

"I got a little bit out of shape coming onto the straight on the last lap but I don't think I lost enough to get first place, so I'm happy with second place," he added. "I think the car was pretty good in both qualifying sessions.

"We've done quite a lot, because already yesterday the car felt pretty good. Today I was a bit unhappy with the car in the morning but then we improved it quite a lot for first qualifying and the second was quick also."

Raikkonen claimed his first win of the season at the Belgian Grand Prix in August and he is confident that, with World Champion Schumacher out the way at the back of the grid after a spin, he could challenge for the win.

"We have been pretty strong all weekend and we have good tyres for the race and a good strategy," he said. "I think the Michelin tyres are working very well for us and I don't think we will have any problems in the race."

Raikkonen has failed to finish in three of the last four races with mechanical failures counting for two retirements and engine failure causing him to drop out of the last race in Italy.