Trulli sets pace, Schumacher back in eight

ITALY'S Jarno Trulli was the surprise pace-setter yesterday in the first qualifying session for the United States Grand Prix while Formula One points leader Michael Schumacher slumped home eighth.

The German champion seeks an unprecedented sixth F1 crown, but the Ferrari racer’s slow showing here means that he will start Saturday’s pole qualifying session three spots before his main rival, Williams BMW's Juan Pablo Montoya.

Schumacher has 82 points, three ahead of Colombia’s Montoya and seven ahead of Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen, who will start just ahead of Schumacher on Saturday when qualifying runs are made in reverse order of Friday’s results.