F1: Irvine keen to stop rot

Eddie Irvine is desperate to end a run of disappointing qualifying performances at the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

The 35-year-old has qualified in the top 10 just once in 15 attempts this season and has been outperformed by Jaguar Racing team-mate Pedro de la Rosa in the last five races.

Irvine boosted his chances of ending the sequence when finishing fifth fastest in first practice for tomorrow’s race at the Motor Speedway.

‘‘It is something I am looking at and am continuously monitoring,’’ said the Ulsterman of his qualifying results. ‘‘I will keep pushing while I find out what is going on.

‘‘Last year I consistently qualified in the top 10, but this year I have struggled to get into the top 10.

‘‘I will have to look at what has been my approach but there have also been a series of incidents that have gone against me. I have had problems with yellow and red flags.’’

Irvine, who finished just over 0.4 secs off the pace set by McLaren’s Mika Hakkinen, added: ‘‘I would like to think we can stay in the top five.

‘‘But we have been up there before on the Friday and not managed to do it on the Saturday.’’

Hakkinen celebrated his 33rd birthday in style by setting the pace from Ferrari’s world champion Michael Schumacher - then admitted he was revelling in the freedom of having announced he would take a break next year.

‘‘I feel confident - I’m a happy person,’’ said the McLaren driver, who has managed just one win this season.

‘‘I have known for a long time that I wanted to take a break but have not been able to tell anyone. Now that I have it is a weight off my mind.

‘‘I am more relaxed and I can enjoy the racing and I will be out to give 100% in the final two races. I want to win. I love racing these cars.’’

Schumacher, who needs to win one of the remaining two races to equal the record of nine victories in a season he shares with Britain’s Nigel Mansell, was just 0.1 secs slower.

Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello was third from McLaren’s David Coulthard as they continued their battle to claim runner-up spot in the drivers’ standings behind four-time champion Schumacher.

Jenson Button was 13th quickest in his Benetton while Jean Alesi, who will become only the fifth driver in history to compete in 200 grands prix tomorrow, was 12th for Jordan.