29/05/2004

Grand Prix of Europe - Qualifying Report

Olivier Panis has qualified his Toyota TF104 chassis in the top 10 for the third time this season as the Grand Prix teams prepare for tomorrow's seventh round of the 2004 F1 World Championship at Nurburgring.

Frenchman Panis lapped the 5.148km circuit in 1m29.697s fractionally quicker than Brazilian team mate Cristiano da Matta (1m29.706s) who lines up immediately behind him on the grid.

Panis said: "I think the closeness of our times proves that we are getting the maximum out of the car. It is satisfying to be in the top 10 again and it would be good for everyone in the team if we can keep the momentum going from Monaco and score more points. It is almost a 'home' race for us with quite a lot of people from the factory visiting Nurburgring and having an opportunity to see the results of all their effort."

Da Matta who had been worried about tyre degradation during Friday's free practice was happier.

"From a lap time point of view I think I might have done a little better he admitted. I'm sure there was a bit more time to be gained through turns four and five but overall I feel positive about the results of qualifying. As more rubber has gone down on the circuit there is less performance drop-off from the tyres and it is clear that Michelin has done a good job. The tyres offer performance over a single lap and the consistency seems good too so we will be doing our best to claim points again although it will be no easy task given the finishing records of the top teams at just about every circuit except Monaco."

Michael Schumacher claimed pole position for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro the 60th of his F1 career and his fifth this year. The Ferrari star lapped in 1m28.351s with Japanese driver Takuma Sato closest to him on 1m28.986s. Sato makes history as the first Japanese driver to claim a front row starting position for a Grand Prix.

Monaco winner Jarno Trulli qualified third quickest for the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team ahead of Kimi Raikkonen's West McLaren Mercedes Jenson Button in the second BAR and Fernando Alonso in the second Renault.

Technical Director Chassis Mike Gascoyne said: "Michael Schumacher has quite a wide margin at the front of the grid but after that the field is very closely-matched. Our times for example are just 0.7s away from a front row time and I think that is indicative of the progress the whole team is making."

Meanwhile Olivier and Cristiano will be giving members of the public the ride of their life this evening as they drive competition winners around the Nurburgring in Toyota Yaris Cup cars. Ricardo Zonta did the same thing on Thursday and admitted that some passengers were a little frightened. "I think they enjoyed it though despite going a little white in the face! " the Brazilian said.