Trulli Fastest in First Qualifying - Japanese GP
Jarno Trulli topped the times for Renault in first qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix as Michael Schumacher took first blood in the battle for the title with rival Kimi Raikkonen.
Jarno Trulli topped the times for Renault in first qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix as Michael Schumacher took first blood in the battle for the title with rival Kimi Raikkonen.
Italian Trulli, of Renault, set a time of 1:30.281 to leave himself just six hundredths of a second ahead of second-placed German Ralf Schumacher in the first Williams-BMW.
Schumacher's championship-chasing brother Michael was the fastest of the title contenders in third and Raikkonen, who finished fifth, was unusually beaten by fourth-placed Scottish teammate David Coulthard.
Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who spun out of the morning practice session as he chased down teammate Trulli's fastest time, could only manage the sixth quickest lap but still within four tenths of the top spot.
Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, in the second Ferrari, beat Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, in the second Williams-BMW, to seventh fastest. Australian Mark Webber and German Heinz-Harald Frentzen completed the top ten.
Japanese driver Takuma Sato, making his debut for BAR-Honda as a replacement for the disillusioned and departed Jacques Villeneuve, was the last car on track but finished 11th fastest, seven tenths faster than team-mate Jenson Button.
Michael Schumacher set an impressive time which remained unbeaten by his championship rival Raikkonen, his teammate Rubens Barrichello and Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya.
Schumacher's brother, Ralf, bumped him down to second after a quick lap in the second Williams and it looked like Coulthard and the two Renault drivers were the only ones left who could mount a challenge.
Alonso was slow in the third sector of his lap and slotted into fourth while Coulthard managed third. But Trulli, who had topped the morning practice times, was able to better both the Schumachers and take the top spot.
Pos Driver Team T1 T2 Time 1. (8) Trulli Renault (M) 30.790 71.371 1:30.281 2. (4) R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 30.962 71.434 1:30.343 + 0.062 3. (1) M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 30.736 71.542 1:30.464 + 0.183 4. (7) Coulthard McLaren Mercedes (M) 30.978 71.614 1:30.482 + 0.201 5. (2) Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes (M) 31.119 71.815 1:30.558 + 0.277 6. (6) Alonso Renault (M) 30.818 71.474 1:30.624 + 0.343 7. (5) Barrichello Ferrari (B) 30.776 71.528 1:30.758 + 0.477 8. (3) Montoya Williams BMW (M) 31.277 72.125 1:31.201 + 0.920 9. (9) Webber Jaguar Cosworth (M) 31.346 72.285 1:31.305 + 1.024 10. (14) Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 31.296 72.584 1:31.783 + 1.502 11. (20) Sato BAR Honda (B) 31.578 72.688 1:31.832 + 1.551 12. (10) Frentzen Sauber Petronas (B) 31.494 72.732 1:31.892 + 1.611 13. (15) Panis Toyota (M) 31.406 72.583 1:31.908 + 1.627 14. (13) da Matta Toyota (M) 32.025 73.292 1:32.256 + 1.975 15. (17) Wilson Jaguar Cosworth (M) 31.834 73.052 1:32.291 + 2.010 16. (12) Button BAR Honda (B) 31.657 73.096 1:32.374 + 2.093 17. (16) Firman Jordan Ford (B) 31.907 73.611 1:33.057 + 2.776 18. (11) Fisichella Jordan Ford (B) 32.007 73.719 1:33.313 + 3.032 19. (18) Verstappen Minardi Cosworth (B) 32.711 75.041 1:34.836 + 4.555 20. (19) Kiesa Minardi Cosworth (B) 33.396 76.124 1:36.181 + 5.900 Pos ----- Sector 1 ----- ----- Sector 2 ----- ----- Sector 3 ----- 1. M.Schumacher 30.736 R.Schumacher 40.472 Raikkonen 18.743 2. Barrichello 30.776 Trulli 40.581 Coulthard 18.868 3. Trulli 30.790 Coulthard 40.636 R.Schumacher 18.909 4. Alonso 30.818 Alonso 40.656 Trulli 18.910 5. R.Schumacher 30.962 Raikkonen 40.696 M.Schumacher 18.922 6. Coulthard 30.978 Barrichello 40.752 da Matta 18.964 7. Raikkonen 31.119 M.Schumacher 40.806 Webber 19.020 8. Montoya 31.277 Montoya 40.848 Montoya 19.076 9. Heidfeld 31.296 Webber 40.939 Sato 19.144 10. Webber 31.346 Sato 41.110 Alonso 19.150 11. Panis 31.406 Panis 41.177 Frentzen 19.160 12. Frentzen 31.494 Wilson 41.218 Heidfeld 19.199 13. Sato 31.578 Frentzen 41.238 Barrichello 19.230 14. Button 31.657 da Matta 41.267 Wilson 19.239 15. Wilson 31.834 Heidfeld 41.288 Button 19.278 16. Firman 31.907 Button 41.439 Panis 19.325 17. Fisichella 32.007 Firman 41.704 Firman 19.446 18. da Matta 32.025 Fisichella 41.712 Fisichella 19.594 19. Verstappen 32.711 Verstappen 42.330 Verstappen 19.795 20. Kiesa 33.396 Kiesa 42.728 Kiesa 20.057 Top Speed: 313.9 km/h (M.Schumacher, Ferrari) All timing unofficial
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