Qualifying session 1: Close at top
International Formula 3000 Championship leader Justin Wilson showed he means business in Hungary by setting the pace from the off during the first qualifying session for round 10 of the series - but main rival Mark Webber pushed the Brit all the way and finished just 0.147s behind in second spot
The pair battled for supremacy throughout the 45-minute session and took it in turns to play the king of the castle. But it was Wilson who wound up on top after hustling his Nordic Lola around the Hungaroring in 1m28.267s.
Like the Formula 1 men before them, the F3000 drivers struggled to find grip on the tight and dusty Budapest track. Even provisional pole man Wilson took a trip across the gravel on his final flying lap. He also found himself taking in the scenery at Turn 1 after being forced to take avoiding action to get around the stationary Derek Hill.
Red Bull Jr ace Ricardo Mauricio also swapped ends twice, but that did not stop the Brazilian from setting the third fastest time. Darren Manning continued to underline his raw speed by finishing fourth fastest, but the Brit has struggled so far this year to turn his qualifying pace into hard results.
Silverstone winner Sebastien Bourdais finished just two tenths behind Manning to take fifth spot for the DAMS team, with Astromega's Giorgio Pantano in sixth.
Wilson's Nordic team mate Tomas Enge seemed to struggle with the twisty circuit and finished the session a disappointing seventh.
Antonio Pizzonia, who won last time out at Hockenheim, also had a tough time of it. The Brazilian has never raced at the Hungaroring and the Petrobras Jr driver finished a lowly 13th.
The drivers have another 45-minute session to hone their set-ups and improve their times. With overtaking extremely difficult in Hungary, second qualifying could get a bit frantic in the fight for all-important grip positions.
Justin Wilson, Nordic, 1m28.267s
Mark Webber, Super Nova, 1m28.414s
Ricardo Mauricio, Red Bull Junior Team, 1m28.453s
Darren Manning, Arden Team Russia, 1m28.674s
Sebastien Bourdais, DAMS, 1m28.873s
Giorgio Pantano, Astromega, 1m29.005s
Tomas Enge, Nordic, 1m29.121s
Bas Leinders, KTR, 1m29.243s
Andrea Piccini, European Minardi Junior, 1m29.394s
Fabrizio Gollin, Coloni, 1m29.490s
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