Europe 1999: Qualifying
Times
P. No Driver Team - Car Time/Laps
1. 8 Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:19.910 205.251 km/h
2. 2 Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:20.176 + 0:00.266
3. 1 Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 1:20.376 + 0:00.466
4. 6 R.Schumacher Williams Supertec 1:20.444 + 0:00.534
5. 18 Panis Prost Peugeot 1:20.638 + 0:00.728
6. 9 Fisichella Benetton Playlife 1:20.781 + 0:00.871
7. 7 Hill Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:20.818 + 0:00.908
8. 22 Villeneuve BAR Supertec 1:20.825 + 0:00.915
9. 4 Irvine Ferrari 1:20.842 + 0:00.932
10. 19 Trulli Prost Peugeot 1:20.965 + 0:01.055
11. 10 Wurz Benetton Playlife 1:21.144 + 0:01.234
12. 3 Salo Ferrari 1:21.314 + 0:01.404
13. 12 Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:21.345 + 0:01.435
14. 17 Herbert Stewart Ford 1:21.379 + 0:01.469
15. 16 Barrichello Stewart Ford 1:21.490 + 0:01.580
16. 11 Alesi Sauber Petronas 1:21.634 + 0:01.724
17. 23 Zonta BAR Supertec 1:22.267 + 0:02.357
18. 5 Zanardi Williams Supertec 1:22.284 + 0:02.374
19. 20 Badoer Minardi Ford 1:22.631 + 0:02.721
20. 21 Gene Minardi Ford 1:22.760 + 0:02.850
21. 15 Takagi Arrows TWR 1:23.401 + 0:03.491
22. 14 De La Rosa Arrows TWR 1:23.698 + 0:03.788
107% time : 1:25.504
FIA Press Release
Qualifying, 13.00 to 14.00
Weather conditions: damp track, drying steadily
Frentzen takes second career pole
Heinz-Harald Frentzen took the second pole position of his career here this afternoon (1m 19.910s) with his Jordan Mugen-Honda 199, outqualifying David Coulthard's McLaren-Mercedes by 0.266sec. "I have to apologise to the team as there was some friction and shouting as to when was the best time to go out," said Frentzen. "The team wanted me to go early, but I thought the track would dry and considering how little practice I had the car felt very good." Damon Hill (7th/1m 20.818s) was extremely happy with the feel of his car. "Unfortunately I went too early," he said, "and although I held pole for a couple of minutes I knew it would not last. The car felt fantastic."
McLarens second and third
The McLarens of Coulthard (1m20.176s) and Mika Hakkinen (1m 20.376s) wound up second and third on the grid. "Thankfully my engineer didn't listen to me at all because I was convinced the track wouldn't dry out," said Coulthard. "This time I was absolutely delighted he took no notice of me and under the circumstances I am reasonably happy with the outcome. Heinz-Harald was very fair; he pulled way off line to let me past, so thanks for that." Hakkinen was obviously disappointed. "Even if I had managed to get a clear lap I don't think I would have managed pole," he said.
Ralf Schumacher takes fourth
Ralf Schumacher posted fourth fastest time (1m 20.444s) in his Williams FW21 using the latest B-spec engine which all the Supertec runners were using this weekend just for qualifying, and which should make its race debut in Malaysia. Ralf used his spare FW21 set up for the wet for his first run, then switched to the race car for his runs in drier conditions. Alex Zanardi (18th/1m 22.284s) did not time his runs to best advantage and also got caught up in traffic.
Irvine spins to ninth
Eddie Irvine's Ferrari (9th/1m 20.842s) was slowed in traffic before spinning. "I still feel confident for the race," he said.
Briefly
Olivier Panis (5th/1m 20.638s) was very happy with the feel of his Prost-Peugeot but Jarno Trulli (10th/1m 20.965s) admitted he made a mistake in the final sector on what should have been his best lap. Jacques Villeneuve (8th/1m 20.825s) was extremely pleased that his BAR has had a trouble-free weekend.
Formula-1.co.uk Commentary
Heinz-Harald Frentzen will start tomorrows European Grand prix from pole position. The Jordan Mugen Honda timed his final run in drying conditions to perfection, while his championship rivals slipped up and did not capitalise on the track conditions.
While Frentzen begins celebrating his second pole position of his career, David Coulthard will also be extremely pleased to out-qualify Mika Hakkinen for just the second time this season. For Coulthard, today's qualifying session may well have saved his championship hopes and ensure that team orders are not put into place within the McLaren team.
Over at Ferrari, Irvine will be bemused to find himself in 9th position. The Ferrari team sent Irvine out too-early in the session and then Irvine made a mistake on what would have been his best run. It was a similar story for Mika Salo, who starts in 12th position.
At Williams it was a day of joy and disappointment. Ralf Schumacher starts the race in a very well deserved fourth position - his highest qualifying position of the season, while Alex Zanardi starts the race in his lowest position of the season in 18th place.
Olivier Panis continued his impressive form in the Prost Peugeot. Once again using the evolution seven V10 motor, the Frenchman qualified in a superb fifth position. Team-mate Jarno Trulli down in 10th place overall.
Stewart Ford has a tricky day, with Rubens Barrichello qualifying in 15th place - by far his worst position of the season. Johnny Herbert managed to out-qualify the Brazilian, but had his own problems when his primary car filed on his first run.
Today's qualifying session may have been something of a lottery, as the cars jostled for position on the rapidly drying circuit, but Frentzen was the driver who made it work and with odds of 16-1 for the championship prior to qualifying, must certainly have raised his chances of success tomorrow.
Current weather forecasts predict showers for Sunday's race and the first lap is going to be critical for the top three drivers. Eddie Irvine has it all to do once again after failing to achieve his much talked about front row grid position and it will be interesting to see what strategy the teams opt for in this unpredictable race for the championship.
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