Schumacher reigns in Spain

Michael Schumacher answered any doubts over Ferrari’s qualifying pace today by claiming an easy pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Sat, 08 May, 2004 - 14:51

Michael Schumacher answered any doubts over Ferrari’s qualifying pace today by claiming an easy pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix.

The six-times world champion was beaten to top spot by Jenson Button last time out at Imola and had been expected to again struggle to take pole.

But a lap time of one minute 15.022 seconds – his best of the weekend so far - ensured he was 0.617secs faster than his closest challenger.

Schumacher, who is chasing his fifth victory from five races this season, will start tomorrow’s race alongside Williams’ Juan Pablo Montoya.

BAR driver Takuma Sato comfortably claimed his best-ever starting position while Jarno Trulli will line up fourth in his Renault with Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello fifth and Williams’ Ralf Schumacher sixth.

Button’s hopes of taking his second straight pole position were thwarted by a trip across the grass as the Englishman pushed too hard and ran wide.

Button had looked set for a competitive time after an ultra-fast first sector but he pushed beyond the limit and the time he lost bouncing his BAR over the grass left him 14th, 2.553secs slower than pole position.

Button’s missed opportunity was highlighted when team-mate Sato stormed to the top of the timesheets with a lap 1.766secs faster than the Frome-born driver.

Sato’s time at the top lasted only a few minutes however with Schumacher next out on track.

The German swiped almost a second off Sato’s effort and he was never toppled as the rest of the grid tried and failed to better his effort.

Scotland’s David Coulthard had the beating of McLaren team-mate Kimi Raikkonen in qualifying 10th. The Finn was 13th.

Home favourite Fernando Alonso was the first of the major players to hit the track after a disappointing pre-qualifying effort and he was forced to wait in the garage to see how many of his rivals would beat his time. Eventually the Spaniard was left in eighth place.

Final Qualifying: 1 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1min 15.022secs,

2 Juan Montoya (Col) Williams BMW 1:15.639,

3 Takuma Sato (Jpn) BAR Honda 1:15.809,

4 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Renault 1:16.144,

5 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari 1:16.272,

6 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Williams BMW 1:16.293,

7 Olivier Panis (Fra) Toyota 1:16.313,

8 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:16.422,

9 Mark Webber (Aus) Jaguar 1:16.514,

10 David Coulthard (Gbr) McLaren Mercedes 1:16.636,

11 Cristiano Da Matta (Bra) Toyota 1:17.038,

12 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Sauber Petronas 1:17.444,