By Michelin Sport
September 24 2005

World championship leader Fernando Alonso will have the best seat in the house at start of tomorrow's Brazilian Grand Prix – Michelin's 16th pole position of the season and its 98th in Formula One. The Spaniard lapped the 2.677 mile Interlagos track in 1:11.988, 0.157 clear of Juan Pablo Montoya. Giancarlo Fisichella, Jenson Button, title contender Kimi Raikkonen and Red Bull driver Christian Klien, who equalled the best qualifying performance of his grand prix career, completed an all-Michelin top six.

Title rivals Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso were fastest in this morning's final free practice sessions. The Finn lapped in 1:11.929, 0.181 quicker than the world championship leader.

Raikkonen compromised his qualifying lap when he locked up under braking for the first corner – a mistake that cost him more than half a second.

Already penalised 10 places on the grid, after causing "an avoidable accident" in the previous race at Spa, Takuma Sato has been docked another 10 positions in the wake of an unscheduled engine change. The Japanese driver chose not to complete a flying qualifying lap.

Jarno Trulli also faces a 10-position grid penalty after having a fresh engine fitted following this morning's final free practice session. He will line up 18th.

Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin Motorsport Director, commented "This has been another very satisfying session for us. Our tyres have worked very well, as they have all season in a wide variety of conditions, and things look promising for the race. The local weather forecasters predict a 60 per cent chance of rain tomorrow and it is possible that some teams have based their strategies around that. Rain won’t worry us in the slightest, but it could add an extra element of uncertainty."

Nick Shorrock, Director of Michelin F1 Activities, added "Lap times might have remained fairly consistent since cars first ventured out yesterday morning, but the circuit has certainly evolved – that much is reflected in the reduced rate of tyre wear we have seen. Michelin's 'prime' and 'option' tyres are very suitable for the conditions here at Interlagos and both will be used tomorrow."