FIA defends qualifying in Austria

The FIA F3000 qualifying system splits drivers into two groups, and grid positions are determined by performance within a session, rather than on aggregate, to allow for variations in track conditions.

However in Austria, the normal procedure was shelved when the track was declared too wet to justify sending out the second group of drivers.

They subsequently took part in a re-arranged session, in dry conditions the following day.

As a result, several top drivers in the wet group failed to set a qualifying time and said the extreme conditions were unfair.

Gonzalo Rodriguez, who lies second in the points standings, was one of those who failed to qualify, 'It was just too treacherous.

'My car was okay, but with others spinning off everywhere and yellow flags out all the time it wasn't like a proper qualifying session.

'It was just a lottery and if you didn't get a clear lap you were history, which is just what happened to me.'

But, an FIA spokesman said, 'The weather got worse as the session went on and that's why the second part of the session had to be postponed.

'For those who were running in the wet, however, there was chance to qualify at the front just as there always is.

'Some teams got their timing right and others didn't; that's part of the sport. It was definitely safe to run when the session started.'