MONTOYA!!!! Takes his first Pole!!!

[EERO]

Germany: Qualifying session
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P. No Driver Team - Engine Tyres Times Ave/Gaps laps
1. 6 MONTOYA Williams BMW M 1'38"117 250.415 Km/h 8
2. 5 R.SCHUMACHER Williams BMW M 1'38"136 + 0'00"019 12
3. 3 HAKKINEN McLaren Mercedes B 1'38"811 + 0'00"694 10
4. 1 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari B 1'38"941 + 0'00"824 11
5. 4 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes B 1'39"574 + 0'01"457 9
6. 2 BARRICHELLO Ferrari B 1'39"682 + 0'01"565 11
7. 16 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas B 1'39"921 + 0'01"804 12
8. 17 RAIKKONEN Sauber Petronas B 1'40"072 + 0'01"955 12
9. 19 DE LA ROSA Jaguar M 1'40"265 + 0'02"148 12
10. 12 TRULLI Jordan Honda B 1'40"322 + 0'02"205 8
11. 18 IRVINE Jaguar M 1'40"371 + 0'02"254 12
12. 10 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda B 1'40"437 + 0'02"320 12
13. 9 PANIS BAR Honda B 1'40"610 + 0'02"493 11
14. 22 ALESI Prost Acer M 1'40"724 + 0'02"607 12
15. 11 ZONTA Jordan Honda B 1'41"174 + 0'03"057 12
16. 23 BURTI Prost Acer M 1'41"213 + 0'03"096 11
17. 7 FISICHELLA Benetton Renault M 1'41"299 + 0'03"182 12
18. 8 BUTTON Benetton Renault M 1'41"438 + 0'03"321 10
19. 15 BERNOLDI Arrows Asiatech B 1'41"668 + 0'03"551 11
20. 14 VERSTAPPEN Arrows Asiatech B 1'41"870 + 0'03"753 11
21. 21 ALONSO Minardi European M 1'41"913 + 0'03"796 12
22. 20 MARQUES Minardi European M 1'42"716 + 0'04"599 11


107% time : 1'44"985
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Unofficial results - Courtesy of: http://www.f1-live.com





WOW! JPM get the first of what I suspect will be many poles. The BMW"s look miles ahaed of everyone else.

Great job by Heidfeld with last year's Ferrai, just .3 secs behind Rubens.

[Maxmil]

Yes indeed!!! For the first time this season I dare to hope that the Williams Team has come in from the cold. At the beginning, I had hoped they would reach this stage by the third or fourth race, but that was too optimistic. Now that they have shown what they are capable of, it's time for a one/two finish tomorrow. GO GO GO

[EERO]

I also think PDLR did a good job to reach the top ten, though I had hoped Irvive could get a Jag in to the top 6.

I expect alot of attrition through blown engines tomorrow. I'll bet that at least one of the BMW's will let go in a big way and the Mercedes have a habit of being fragile. I anticipate that a Sauber with those rock-solid Ferrari/Petronas engines will have a big day.

[f1manoz]

All I have to say is: Shove that up your arse all you JPM doubters!!! The man has de-livered.

And he used only 8 of his qualifying laps, while most used 11 or 12.

Hakkinen continued his good form in third, while TGF had his worst qualifying session since Imola, where he also qualified 4th. DC only managed to beat Rubens, and it all adds weight to the fact the championship is over.

Great show from the Saubers once again, with Heidfeld beating Kimi this time on home ground. More points beckon I presume. Jordan appeared to struggle, although Trulli did blow an engine while Zonta was slow but steady.

I wonder how happy/unhappy Jaguar would be with 9th/11th for PDLR and Irvine after their practice pace?

[LYM]

Look at the competition Montoya has created, it's good for the team and good for Ralf too. I hope Ralf can take it like a man and offer some words of congratulations to his teammates. Williams to rule tomorrow.

Michael at 4th. What do you reckon? Bridgestone may have sacrificed the qualifying for the race, but I was surprised that Hakknen, despite having problems with the car in the last minute, managed to qualified in front of Michael. The Hakk comeback continues.

[Minardi fan]

Montoya's pole is very impressive but is a massively down to the engine in the back of the car.

Kimi's 8th is very impressive, as is Nick's 7th, and for Alonso to be just 1 tenth behind Jos is amazing.

[BBKing]

Yeah MF. Ralf's din't have an engine. Sure man.

It was just a question of time. Formula Juan is here to stay a beat everyone.

Schumi must now realize that proving himself against a qualified teammate has its reward. Too bad he refused to do so all along his career.

[Liz]

What price a massive Williams Off at the first corner as Ralf tries to win in the first lap? I pray they will both be men about it ...

And how about the first question to Ralf in the post-qualifying PC: "How do you feel BEING DEPRIVED OF POLE in your home race?"

Oh, puh----LEEZE.

A wonderful thing to see Williams at the front again and an especially wonderful thing to see TGF having to work for a change. Hope he has a safe, unfraught race and finishes at least seventh.

P.S. Did anyone else think Mika looked a lot older today than he used to?

[JeremySmith]

Originally posted by f1manoz
All I have to say is: Shove that up your arse all you JPM doubters!!! The man has de-livered.

YOU need to mind your manners...

[EERO]

Ralf was blocked on his second run and HAD been faster than JPM all weekend, though not by much. The gap is narrowing between the two and I really believe that they are pretty evenly matched. Remember that this is a track Montoya knows and has done well on.

I think the real point here is that the BMW's and Michelins got the Pole and it was a toss-up between the two drivers about who would actually get it.

[EERO]

Originally posted by Liz


P.S. Did anyone else think Mika looked a lot older today than he used to?

Yes, I did. He looked postively drawn and haggard in the press conference.

Who is that guy who asks the questions??? What a putz.

[BBKing]

Jersound. You area a moaner. If you don't hate Montoya you don't have shove anything up anywhere...LOL

[Champ69]

Nice engine track. How bad must the prost be? Good work JPM!! Looks like it should be a great race.

[Mania]

The first of many poles for Juan Pablo. But not by much. I think Ralf may have got him on his 2nd last run if he had not encountered traffic but thats the way it goes.

I must say though, as much as I like Williams, I dont think they can neccesarily be too confident for tomorrow. Firstly, Hakkinen isent too far off and the Mclaren's are generally quicker in race trim this season. Same goes for Michael and Ferrari. They've never qualified well yet are extremely strong in the race. I would'nt be surprised to see Michael going for a 2 stopper on Sunday actually. That'll really shake things up.

So great job by Juan and Ralf - but if they make it through the first corner ok - that doesent neccesarily mean they'll win the race. I think Michael and Mika can also be really strong tomorrow.

As for the first corner, I think Juan needs to get away really well because even if Ralf sees a small window - he'll go for it.

Should be a great race. Especially if it rains

[ozywoodwards]

Was it just me or did DC look like he was on the verge of tears in his interview with Louise b4 the qualifying session started.

[Maxmil]

Originally posted by Liz
What price a massive Williams Off at the first corner as Ralf tries to win in the first lap?

I fear you have cost me a good night's sleep with that post. Surely Sir Frank will knock their heads together, and sweet reason will prvail.

[LYM]

Originally posted by EERO


Yes, I did. He looked postively drawn and haggard in the press conference.

That's because he was sitting next to two twenty-something. Normally if he gets to the top three, there's always an equally haggard- looking TGF sitting in the middle.

[neutral]

I pray for Rain, otherwise schumi cant win

[Ralf's Girl]

Originally posted by neutral
I pray for Rain, otherwise schumi cant win

Come on, hot weather!!!

I think it'll be a Williams win tomorrow, but it's too close to call when it comes to which Williams. That's, obviously, provided they're reliable, seeing as the reliability of that car is somewhat suspect.

[RALFANATOR]

Originally posted by Ralf's Girl


Come on, hot weather!!!

I think it'll be a Williams win tomorrow, but it's too close to call when it comes to which Williams. That's, obviously, provided they're reliable, seeing as the reliability of that car is somewhat suspect.

YES willams will win but which one will come down to pit stops (can willams do a good pit stop )

Go Ralf !! well done TCF (good timing)

[Tristan]

Williams one-two?? Monty on pole?? Big flippin' wow!!! Who cares?? The rest never stood a chance and nor will they tomorrow unless the BMW goes BANG!! which it may well do.

I AM a closed JPM fan, but him getting pole is no big thing. It was a case of getting him and Ralf together and tossing a coin.

[drexel]

Looks close at the top, but who will get the advantage of pitting second between JPM and RS? This would almost surely decide the race.

[Liz]

And what about the dreaded "team instructions" if they are second and third and JPM is measurably faster...and once again the other blue car develops radio problems? Assuming (and this is a major assumption) both cars run without mechanical trouble tomorrow, this could be the most exciting race of the season!

If nobody runs onto the track, that is.

It reminded me of the old days of watching teammates take tenths off each other until time ran out - see what TGF missed by demanding that he not have to compete against his teammate?

Well, anyway, for once this isn't all about him. And Montoya sounded in the press conf as if Sir Frank had already had a word and so had Patrick Head. Perhaps cooler heads will prevail tomorrow.

P.S. I don't think it was just the contrast between the two younger men and Mika. He looked exhausted to me.

[EERO]

I agree entirely with your assessment Liz, Mika looks TIRED.

Its surprising to me how baddly Ralf has supported Montoya. Looking at JPM, he's not some one I would want to cross. If the BMW holds together, I still expect JPM to get his first. If Ralfie wins, it puts him in goo shape to finish second in the WDC.

But tomorrow, I'm cheering for Nick.

[Liz]

As long as he's running, it's Montoya for me! (I am going to cheer Rico home to a good solid finish, safely and without incident. That is what he needs tomorrow.)

Mika, if you're reading this, get a good night's sleep, let Erja take all the calls, and don't talk to anybody except Hugo.

Especially don't talk to anybody with a German accent.