Schumacher Aiming to Seize Opportunity

German Michael Schumacher is aiming to seize the opportunity to move closer to the top of the standings after today's qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.

World Champion Schumacher swept to pole position at the Barcelona circuit as Ferrari's new F2003-GA Formula One cars filled the front row. The German, fastest in Spain for the fourth year in a row, powered around the Circuit de Catalunya in 1:17.762, 0.258 ahead of his Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello.

Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren's World Championship leader, failed to set a time and might start from the pitlane for the second time in five races after running wide into the gravel trap at turn seven. Schumacher, 14 points behind Raikkonen, wants to take full advantage of the opportunity.

"If you look at the points situation, obviously that is an opportunity for us," said Schumacher of Raikkonen's position.

Raikkonen started from the pitlane in the action-packed Australian season opener and still came third.

Schumacher, who has won four times in Spain and who has never failed to finish in the points at the Barcelona circuit, admitted he was happy his Ferrari team decided to race the new F2003-GA for the first time this weekend.

"We knew there was a good opportunity for us because the car is better than last year's," he said.