TWO OF A KIND
Jarno repeated his scorching performance from yesterday in this morning’s decisive qualifying session, losing out on pole by an aggregate of just 0.25s, underlining the progress that Panasonic Toyota Racing has made since last season.

Jarno Trulli (Car 16, Chassis TF105/03)

Second Qualifying Classification 2nd Lap Time: 1m35.253s (+0.163s)
Laps: 3

Aggregate Qualiying Classification 2nd Agg Time: 3m07.925s (+0.253s)
Grid: 2nd

“I am again extremely pleased to have secured Toyota’s second successive front row grid position. It was a good lap and the car appears to be highly competitive here in Sepang, thanks to all the hard work from the team, who keep pushing and pushing. I am looking to confirming this pace in the race.”

THE FIFTH ELEMENT
Ralf again endured understeer in the opening sector of his lap which initially dropped him one place on the grid. But Kimi Raikkonen was unable to match Ralf’s pace in qualifying, which secured the Toyota driver a fine fifth place on the grid for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Ralf Schumacher (Car 17, Chassis TF105/04)

Second Qualifying Classification 7th Lap Time: 1m35.901s (+0.811s)
Laps: 3

Aggregate Qualifying Classification 5th Agg. Time: 3m09.007s (+1.335s)
Grid: 5th

“My lap this morning was by no means perfect, after a mistake in the first corner just like yesterday. That lost me quite a bit of time, but the important thing is that I was able to retain my fifth position on the grid. Okay, I lost a place to Webber but I gained one back. From the third row, I think we can have a good race, although it will be interesting to see the effects of the two-race engine rule and of course the one-race tyre.”

POLE-AXED
Starting from 2nd and 5th on the grid, Panasonic Toyota Racing looks to this afternoon’s Malaysian Grand Prix for its best ever race result after a massively competitive weekend so far.

Mike Gascoyne – Technical Director Chassis
“I think it is a measure of the large step we have made that we are disappointed with 2nd and 5th on the grid for this afternoon’s race. Like yesterday, Ralf had too much understeer into the first corner, which lost him valuable time. It is unfortunate that he lost a place to Webber, but we are pleased he ultimately retained his 5th place. We thought Jarno had done enough after another superb lap, but it is great to have our second front row grid position in two races – this time competitively! We have to look at maintaining this pace in the race and scoring at least a podium finish – Toyota’s first.”