By pitpass.com (23/10/2004)
October 23 2004

Ahead of today's main qualifying session, which will decide the grid for tomorrow's race, the ambient temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature has risen to 39 degrees. First out will be Zsolt Baumgartner, followed by Bruni, Glock, Klien and Heidfeld.

Bang on 13:00, the Hungarian leaves his garage, qualifying is underway. He completes the first sector in 18.5, followed by a 56.346 at the second split. At the line it's 1:13.550 - the Minardi looking mighty uncomfortable over the many bumps. That said, his time is quicker than last year's pole time - which certainly makes you think.

Bruni doesn't go out, the Italian has a problem with his rear suspension.

Therefore, Glock is next out. The German begins his flying lap, completing the first sector in 18.514. At the second split it's 56.111, followed by a 1:13.502 sat the line. The Jordan driver takes provisional pole.

Christian Klien begins his lap, the Austrian youngster pushing hard. At the first split it's 18.333, followed by a 55.108 at the second. He crosses the line at 1:12.211, though he nearly caught up with Glock who was heading back into the pits. A good lap from the Jaguar driver.

Last out before the first break is Nick Heidfeld. At the first split the German posts 18.393, he's down on Klien. At the second split it's 55.442, he's still down on the Jaguar driver. At the line it's 1:12.829, he goes second, a strong performance nonetheless.

At the first break it's Klien, ahead of Heidfeld, Glock, Baumgartner and Bruni.

Ricardo Zonta is the first of three Brazilians to run today. The Toyota driver leaves his garage and begins his 'out' lap. At the first split the former BAR driver posts 18.346, which puts him behind Klien. At the second split it's 55.107, he's equal to Klien, to the exact thousandth. At the line it's 1:11.974, he goes quickest.

Mark Webber is next in the Jaguar, an emotional weekend for the Australian and his team. At the first split it's 18.259, he's quickest. At the second split it's 54.596, he's half-a-second up on the Toyota driver. At the line it's 1:11.665, provisional pole for Jaguar.

Jacques Villeneuve completes the first sector in 18.259, which puts him equal with Webber. At the second split the Renault driver posts 54.957, he's 0.361 down on Webber. At the line it's 1:11.836, which puts him second.

Next out is his teammate, Fernando Alonso. At the first split the Spaniard posts 18.1698, he's up on Webber, but it's marginal. At the second split it's 54.647, he's lost time. At the line it's 1:11.454, he takes provisional pole, but only just.

Jenson Button is next out, it's unusual for him to go out so early. At the first split it's 17.938, he's up on Webber by 0.23. He's struggling to tame the car, but he still posts 54.154 at the second split, somehow he's still ahead. At the line it's 1:11.092, he takes pole by 0.362s.

At the second break it's, Button ahead of Alonso, Webber, Villeneuve, Zonta, Klien, Heidfeld, Glock, Baumgartner and Bruni.

Next out will be Jarno Trulli in the Toyota. The Italian completes the first sector in 18.189s, he's already 0.291s down on Button. At the second split it's 54.512, he's still down on Button. At the line it's 1:11.483, which puts him third, behind former teammate Alonso.

Giancarlo Fisichella is on track in the Sauber, what can he do? At the first split it's 18.107, he's down on Button, but it's marginal. At the second split it's 54.670, he's lost a lot of time. At the line it's 1:11.571, which puts him fourth behind Trulli.

Kimi Raikkonen is next out, the Finn has looked very quick this weekend. At the first split it's 18.043, followed by a 54.228 at the second. He makes a couple of minor errors but still manages to go quickest, crossing the line at 1:10.092.

Teammate Coulthard is next, his last qualifying run in a McLaren. At the first split it's 18.229, he lost time at Turn 3. At the second split it's 54.848, he's 0.6s down on his teammate. At the line, the Scot posts 1:11.750, which puts him seventh.

Takuma Sato is on track in the BAR, he'll be really fired up. He gets it all wrong at Turn 1, though he still manages to post 18.102 at the first split. At the second split it's 54.268, he's still only 0.041s off the pace. At the line it's 1:11.120, which puts him third, behind his teammate.

At the final break, it's Raikkonen, ahead of Button, Sato, Alonso, Trulli, Fisichella, Webber, Coulthard, Villeneuve and Zonta.

Next out is Ralf Schumacher, who ran such a strong second at Suzuka. At the first split the German posts 18.322, he's 0.279s down on Raikkonen. At the second split it's 54.522, he's now 0.295s down on the Finn. At the line the WilliamsF1 driver posts 1:11.131, which puts him fourth, he'll be disappointed.

Next out is Michael Schumacher, who of course forfeit ten grid places. At the first split it's 18.048, he's just 0.005s off the pace. At the second split it's 54.497, he's now 0.270s down on the Finn. At the line it's 1:11.386, which puts him fifth, or fifteenth to be exact. No doubt he's running with a lot of fuel.

Felipe Massa is next out. At the first split it's 17.908, he's quickest by 0.135s. At the second split it's 54.134, he's still quickest, incredible. At the line it's 1:10.922, he goes second - so close. Nonetheless, a superb lap from Felipe.

Juan Pablo Montoya is next out. At the first split the Colombian posts 18.082, he's down on Raikkonen, but only just. At the second split it's 54.236, he's only 0.009s off the pace. At the line it's 1:10.850, the WilliamsF1 driver goes quickest with a barnstorming lap.

Last out is Rubens, can he take pole for the second successive year? At the first split the Ferrari star posts 17.883, he's almost 0.2s up on Montoya. At the second split it's 53.954, he's now 0.281s up on the WilliamsF1 driver. At the line it's 1:10.646, pole for the popular Brazilian.

A super smooth, super-fast lap from the Ferrari driver, who will line up alongside his good friend Juan Pablo Montoya.

Third quickest is Raikkonen, ahead of Massa, Button, Sato and Ralf, while Michael, who qualified eighth, drops to eighteenth.

Next up is Alonso, who will line up ahead of Trulli, Fisichella, Webber, Coulthard, Villeneuve, Zonta, Klien and Heidfeld.

First to greet Rubens is his wife, Silvana, while Juan Pablo Montoya is also keen to congratulate his fellow south American.

An interesting session that has produced an interesting grid. However, we are told that there is the serious threat of very heavy rain tomorrow, which could turn today's efforts upside down.

Michael Schumacher starts from way down the grid, but it would be ludicrous to write him off, not unless he experiences another crazy afternoon as he did in China.

As for Rubens, for so long he has lived in the shadow, not only of his teammate, Michael Schumacher, but also Ayrton Senna. Will the Brazilian finally shake off his jinx and step out of the shadows?

We'll find out soon enough.

This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.