Rubens continues surprise pole habit

Rubens Barrichello continued his habit of snatching pole positions in difficult qualifying sessions by setting the fastest time at Silverstone

Apr 22, 2000, 1:37 PM

The Brazilian took the first pole for himself and the Jordan team at Spa in 1994 when the conditions were very similar: a wet track drying constantly throughout the session.

He also stole the top slot for the Stewart team at Magny-Cours last season, on that occasion getting out early before the downpour intensified.

'I feel very good,' Barrichello said after the session. 'I enjoy this type of conditions a lot.

'I'm particularly proud because in testing last week I only ran in the wet and I only managed two laps before the rain in practice yesterday.

'So basically before today I had no running with this car in the dry here. The team did a good job with the car, I had no traffic and I pushed it to the limit.'

This is Ferrari's first pole position since Michael Schumacher led the way in Japan last year.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen, another driver who has benefited in the past from getting out at just the right moment in changeable conditions, will join Barrichello on the front row.