Webber Pleased with Top Ten Slot

Australian Mark Webber was happy with the start of his Japanese Grand Prix weekend after posting the ninth quickest time in opening qualifying.

"There's some quick boys out there today and I am pretty happy to have got ninth place behind the front runners," said Webber, whose team are fighting for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship.

"It's going to be difficult to keep up with the big boys this weekend but our battle is against BAR-Honda, Sauber and Toyota â€" all of whom are chasing points and fifth place in the Constructors' Championship.

"We have begun our campaign well and I feel quite good going into tomorrow's decisive second qualifying session."

Ford-owned Jaguar are currently one point behind fifth-place Sauber and tied on points with the Honda-powered BAR team.

Webber's rookie teammate Justin Wilson, who scored his first Formula One point two weeks ago at the United States Grand Prix, wound up 15th quickest, almost a whole second behind the Australian.

"I am reasonably pleased with what is my quickest lap of the day," said Wilson. "It's a very difficult circuit to master but one that I am getting the hang of. Sector One is particularly tough and there is absolutely no margin for error.

"Getting my first championship point at the US Grand Prix two weeks ago was a great feeling but it leaves you with an appetite for more and given how close the constructor's battle is, both Mark and I will be making an aggressive charge for more points come Sunday."