Alonso upstaged by Trulli

Jarno Trulli stole Fernando Alonso’s thunder by snatching top spot in first qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona today.

Sat, 07 May, 2005 - 14:02

Jarno Trulli stole Fernando Alonso’s thunder by snatching top spot in first qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona today.

Home hero Alonso was cheered on by around 100,000 fans expecting him to fight for a fourth consecutive victory.

But he fell agonisingly short of Jarno Trulli’s time of one minute 14.795 seconds, missing out on top spot by just 0.016secs.

Trulli, who has scored two third places this year to give Toyota their first-ever podium finishes, took over at the top and saw off challenges from Alonso and Michael Schumacher to give Toyota hope of their first-ever pole position.

Early pacesetter Kimi Raikkonen had to settle for third as he tries to avenge his Imola disappointment after a mechanical problem robbed him of victory in San Marino.

The McLaren driver tried a little too hard today though and ran slightly wide, costing him a fraction of a second.

Ralf Schumacher looked on course to go fastest before losing time in the last sector but he gave Toyota two cars in the top four.

Williams rival Nick Heidfeld put in a similar lap, losing time late on to miss the chance to overhaul Raikkonen. It scarcely matters for the Williams driver though, who changed his BMW engine this morning and incurred a 10-place grid penalty.

The German was fifth quickest today but will slide down the field tomorrow when the penalty is imposed. Team-mate Mark Webber was sixth.

World champion Michael Schumacher was a disappointment today after his scintillating form at Imola.

The Ferrari driver showed little of the speed which propelled him from 13th on the grid to second in San Marino and battled to seventh today.

David Coulthard threatened to cause a surprise when he went fastest in the first sector but he swiftly lost that advantage and ended up 10th.

Rubens Barrichello set the ninth fastest time today but his efforts were hit by a late engine change on his Ferrari which demotes him 10 places on tomorrow’s grid.

1st Qualifying session:

1 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1min 14.795secs,

2 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:14.811,

3 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren Mercedes 1:14.819,

4 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:14.870,

5 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Williams BMW 1:15.038,

6 Mark Webber (Aus) Williams BMW 1:15.042,

7 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1:15.398,

8 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:15.601,

9 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari 1:15.746,

10 David Coulthard (Gbr) Red Bull 1:15.795,

11 Felipe Massa (Bra) Sauber Petronas 1:15.863,