13/09/2003

Italian Grand Prix - Second Qualifying Report

Olivier Panis achieved another top 10 qualifying slot for Panasonic Toyota Racing as the Formula 1 field prepares for the last European-based round of the 2003 World Championship in Italy tomorrow.

Frenchman Panis qualified his Toyota TF103 with a lap in 1m22.488s while Brazilian team-mate Cristiano da Matta will start three places further back on the grid in 12th after a lap in 1m22.914s.

Panis lost some time in Saturday morning's free practice session after an electronic problem and said: "I have to be happy with things after my set-up problems yesterday. We have worked hard on the balance and I think we have found a good direction for the race. From a solid starting position in the front half of the grid I will be trying hard to add to our points tally tomorrow."

Da Matta fourth quickest yesterday afternoon in first qualifying was a little disappointed not to be faster.

"It was not the best lap I have done this year he admitted. The first two sectors were pretty good only a tenth or so down on Olivier but then I made a small mistake at the Ascari chicane which compromised my sector three time. Obviously the level is not as high as I managed yesterday when everyone was on low fuel but Monza is also about reliability and I will be doing everything I can to finish strongly tomorrow."

The pole position fight was a tense affair between championship contenders Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya with the German's Ferrari just beating the Colombian's BMW Williams to top spot by 0.05s.

The BMW Williams F1 team currently leads Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro in the constructors championship by eight points but the team's challenge was dealt a blow when Ralf Schumacher started to suffer more headaches following his testing accident 10 days ago. He has been forced to stand down for the race in favour of test driver Marc Gene. The Spaniard did a fine job to qualify fifth (1m21.834s) just behind the third drivers championship contender Kimi Raikkonen (1m21.466s) in the first of the West McLaren Mercedes cars. Mild Seven Renault F1 driver Jarno Trulli (1m21.944s) completed the top six qualifiers.

General Manager of Car Design and Development Keizo Takahashi summed the day up: "This qualifying result is satisfying for the Panasonic Toyota Racing team. I am pleased with Olivier setting the ninth fastest time given that he missed one of this morning's free practice session due to electronic problems. Cristiano's car was not as competitive as yesterday but I think both cars should be in reasonably good shape to challenge for points in the Grand Prix tomorrow."