Trouble-Free Friday Pays Off for Montoya

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya claimed that his impressive second place on the grid for the Austrian Grand Prix was down to the fact he had a problem-free Friday practice session.

Montoya maximised preparations in Friday's practice after his Williams finally allowed him a trouble-free day and he put his place on the front row down to his performance on the opening day.

"I think it went pretty well," said Montoya, who will start alongside Michael Schumacher at the front of the grid. "It's been very close all weekend, but it's very great to be ahead of Ralf.

"Before we've had quite difficult Fridays and stuff and finally, apart from Brazil, we got a good Friday in and we definitely did a lot of improvements in the car and it really paid off."

Montoya, who outqualified his team mate for the first time this season, also said the windy conditions at the A1-Ring troubled him during qualifying.

"Looking at the data, I couldn't improve the times because the wind changed direction and it was head-on," he added. "It would be a lot more difficult."

Ralf Schumacher qualified behind his team mate in third and the German driver said that he is hopeful the duo can challenge at the front in the race.

"I think for a team we had good qualifying today and we are in a pretty promising position tomorrow," Schumacher said. "We'll see what happens. Whoever gets to the first corner first will go in first, I guess. It should be a problem at all - I hope."