Junqueira takes pole at Imola
Williams test driver Bruno Junqueira secured pole for the first round of the European F3000 series when he edged ahead of Super Nova's Nicolas Minassian at the end of the second 45-minute qualifying session
The pole for the Brazilian capped a good session for the Petrobras Jr. team with Junqueira's young team mate Jaime Melo Jr. securing fourth on the grid.
Australian Mark Webber starred for Arrows Junior outfit European Formula Racing on his first competitive appearance in an F3000 car after finishing third.
It was a bad day for the British drivers, with Nordic pair Justin Wilson and Kevin McGarrity 16th and 17th. Arden's Darren Manning could only manage 19th spot, only just behind title favourite Stephane Sarrazin.
The session was incredibly close, with all 26 qualifiers covered by just 1.265s.
Qualifying times from Imola:
1 |
Bruno Junqueira |
Petrobras Jr |
1m38.038s |
2 |
Nicolas Minassian |
Super Nova |
1m38.271s |
3 |
Mark Webber |
European |
1m38.272s |
4 |
Jaime Melo Jr |
Petrobras Jr |
1m38.375s |
5 |
Enrique Bernoldi |
Red Bull Jr |
1m38.378s |
6 |
Fabrice Walfisch |
Astromega |
1m38.523s |
7 |
Tomas Enge |
McLaren Jr |
1m38.523s |
8 |
Sebastien Bourdais |
Gauloises Jr |
1m38.534s |
9 |
Fabrizio Gollin |
Coloni |
1m38.536s |
10 |
Mario Haberfeld |
Fortec |
1m38.598s |
11 |
Fernando Alonso |
Astromega |
1m38.618s |
12 |
Andrea Piccini |
KJR |
1m38.626s |
13 |
Ricardo Mauricio |
Red Bull Jr |
1m38.637s |
14 |
David Saelens |
Super Nova |
1m38.694s |
15 |
Bas Leinders |
KJR |
1m38.730s |
16 |
Justin Wilson |
Nordic |
1m38.757s |
17 |
Kevin McGarrity |
Nordic |
1m38.777s |
18 |
Stephane Sarrazin |
McLaren Jr |
1m38.847s |
19 |
Darren Manning |
Arden |
1m38.990s |
20 |
Kristian Kolby |
DAMS |
1m39.043s |
21 |
Jeffrey van Hooydonk |
KTR |
1m39.047s |
22 |
Soheil Ayari |
Martello |
1m39.049s |
23 |
Franck Montagny |
DAMS |
1m39.075s |
24 |
Andre Couto |
Gauloises Jr |
1m39.152s |
25 |
Christian Albers |
European |
1m39.196s |
26 |
Ananda Mikola |
WRT |
1m39.300s |
27 |
Hidetoshi Matsusada* |
WRT |
1m39.733s |
28 |
Yves Olivier* |
KTR |
1m39.886s |
29 |
Victor Maslov* |
Arden |
1m39.971s |
30 |
Andres Scheld* |
Fortec |
1m40.372s |
*did not qualify
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