Australian GP Saturday Benetton notes

Australian GP / Qualifying Session March 06 1999

Chassis Numbers: Car No.9 - Giancarlo Fisichella - Mild Seven Benetton Playlife B199 04 Car No.10 - Alexander Wurz - Mild Seven Benetton Playlife B199 01

Second Timed Session: 9th - 1:32.975 - Giancarlo Fisichella 12th - 1:33.110 - Alexander Wurz

After the qualifying session for the 1999 Australian Grand Prix, Giancarlo Fisichella will start the race tomorrow from the fourth row of the grid and Alexander Wurz from the fifth.

Giancarlo Fisichella : 7th - 1'32.540 "The car was well balanced in the qualifying set-up, so for my last run we didn't change anything at all and just used a new set of tyres. The car just needs a bit more grip in certain corners. Unfortunately when I went out on the new tyres for my last run I was slowed down by yellow flags and traffic. Tomorrow I will be starting in seventh position, but I am very optimistic after the times we achieved in race set up and with a heavy fuel load yesterday."

Alexander Wurz : 10th - 1'32.789 "For me the qualifying session was a bit difficult as I had to run in the T car after I spun off in practice this morning. It felt quite a bit different and the engine wasn't as strong as the one in my race car. My first two runs were OK and I was really happy with my first split on the third run and then there was the yellow flag for the last two laps. I didn't get a chance to improve my time as I had to slow down. Tenth position is not the best place to start on the grid, but I am already focussing on my strategy for the race with the engineers."

Pat Symonds, Technical Director: "Today was a very exciting qualifying session that didn't quite fulfil expectations. Alexander suffered from having to use the spare car after his accident in practice and having got used to his race car, it cost him some time. Giancarlo had a nightmare of traffic and yellow flags which, of course, can happen to anyone. Most probably he missed around three tenths of the lap time he should have done. Nevertheless the tyres look very good for the race and we hope the reliability and speed is good enough to give us a good position tomorrow."

Spare car B199/01 used by Alexander Wurz after the B199/02 was damaged in the morning's practice session.