A deflating rear tire during his qualifying lap prevented Jenson Button from a certain pole position in the Spanish Grand Prix. instead, the Briton will start the race from 14th place along side Kimi Raikkonen, who qualified 13th.
Once again, the genius of Michael Schumacher gave him the pole position who took it from Takuma Sato, and survived a last minute attack by JP Montoya who managed to place himself between Takuma and Micheal to start second...
Needless to say, the first corner will see a major battle for the lead between the old rivals whose rivalry grows by the day.
Young Takuma Sato, who managed third spot starting alongside Jarno Truli will be close to pick up positions should the battling duo of Schumacher and Montoya entangle as they enter the Elf corner at the end of the straight.
Fernando Alosno disappointed a little when he only managed to qualify on 8th position (fourth row)
Takuma is eyeing a possible maiden podium provided he stays clear of trouble and his engine last the distance.
During qualifying the most stable and balanced chassis was the BAR of Takuma Sato, even Schumacher's Ferrari looked a little twitchy as the Ferrari negotiated the fast corners of the Circuit de Catalunya; even a twitchier Williams went around the circuit a tad faster than Sato. It is possible that fuel loads may have influence those minute hundrethds of a second between the three fastest drivers. This of course will also have bearings in how the race starts and develops in the openning laps.
What will also be interesting is how will Fernando alonso, Jenson Button, and Kimi Raikkonen will start the race and what strategy they will take in order to get into the point paying positions.
Catalunya is a very fast circuit where mistakes can be costly due to the speed of many of the corners, however most drivers are well acquianted with it as Barcelona is one of the main testing tracks that are used often by most drivers.
As I have been mentioning both BAR drivers (and the entire team itself) have been continuously improving over the winter and throughout this season. I am willing to predict that both drivers will have their first win of their careers. In particular, Takuma who swept the British Formula 3 championship in 2001, (and a 3rd in 2000). Such a driver must have tremendous potential as Takuma is slowly demonstrating. WIll the spanish GP prove not only his maiden Podium but inded his first GP victory?
Tomorrow we will find out.
A sight to see will be that first corner with Montoya and Schumacher not giving one inch to the other. Clearly Schumcaher will have the advantage as he has the pole... a small, but sufficient advantage to edge JP into the first corner... however, with the exception of the last race in Imola, Montoya usualy is a faster starter than Michael, this opnes the opportunity for JP to take an early lead... Particularly if Ferrari has chosen to go with the harder compound, which puts the Ferrari at a slight disadvantage over the Michelin shod car of Montoya, whose tires will be more responsive quicker...
As mentioned, Takuma may benefit by the antics of the Ferrari and Williams drivers...
Less than 24 hours to find out.... |
