Qualifying 1: Bourdais shines in wet

Although the rain held off throughout the session the track was still very wet. The F1 cars had created a semblance of a dry time ahead of the F3000 runners going out, and a number of cars, including title favourite Tomas Enge, experimented with slick tyres. However, try as they might, they were unable to get with 2.5s of the fastest cars on wets, and the Czech is back in a lowly 12th place on the provisional grid.

Brazilian winner Rodrigo Sperafico continued his fine form to vault up to second with just seconds remaining, knocking pre-season favourites Giorgio Pantano and Antonio Pizzonia down to third and fourth respectively.

Tiago Monteiro underlined Super Nova's strength in the wet by taking a fine fifth, while Nicolas Kiesa put the smiles back on the faces of the PSM team after a trying time in Brazil.

The threat of rain still hangs in the Imola air, so it's possible that the session one times may decide the grid. Should the track dry out however, Bourdais may find his unrivalled position at the top under greater threat.

For qualifying 1 times click here.