Kirkaldy on pole

Formula Opel Euroseries runner-up Andrew Kirkaldy outpaced British Formula
Ford Champion Jenson Button to monopolise the front row for the category
rookies.

Kirkaldy was backed up by Stewart Racing Dallara-Mugen Honda team mate
Luciano Burti (in third) as the sister outfit to the Stewart Grand Prix squad
bounced back from a disappointing start to the season.

The Scot set three lap times good enough for pole position in the opening
session, half of which Burti sat out with a suspected fuel pump problem. The
Brazilian was quickest in the second session, but with the temperature warmer
and the track dirtier there was no way anyone could challenge for pole.

"I've been working up to this really," said Kirkaldy. "We've had two days'
testing to get to this and made a lot of changes, and now I've got confidence
in the car. You need that to go quickly around here, otherwise you're in the
shit."

Button's Promatecme Dallara-Renault shot onto the front row with a do or die
effort from the teenager.

"I was quite on the edge," he said. "It went well and we're pleased with the result."

Burti was happy that his second session performance gives a good indication
to his likely race pace, but will have to get around Kirkaldy and Button
first.

Championship leader Marc Hynes was fourth, a good effort from the new F3 team
Manor Motorsport, which had only two hours of testing to work out a set-up
for its Dallara-Mugens. "It's bloody blinding," grinned Hynes. "I'd like to
think we could have got the front row and the team's got a great job."

On the third row are Aluizio Coelho (Promatecme Dallara) and Malaysian Alex
Yoong - a good effort on his seasonal debut for Alan Docking Racing. A
disappointed Kristian Kolby starts seventh, his Fortec Dallara handling badly
and causing the Dane off course twice at the flat-out Goodwood right-hander.
"I feel like a passenger," he grimaced.