Belgian GP: McLaren Saturday notes

West McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen will start tomorrow's Belgian Grand Prix from the front row after setting the second fastest time with 1:44.150 ? it's Kimi's best Formula One qualifying position ever. Team mate David Coulthard qualified sixth with a time of 1:44.759.

KIMI RAIKKONEN

"Obviously I'm happy with my first Formula One front row but I believe there was a chance to further improve my time at the end. However, there was sand on the track and I also got the car a little out of shape at the double left-hander because I was pushing very hard. During my second run, there was a tricky situation when there was thick smoke at the beginning of the straight after Eau Rouge, and I didn't know at once where to go. I then saw the oil line from Panis' engine and went to the opposite side without losing too much time. Our package seems to work very well here so I'm looking forward to the race."

DAVID COULTHARD

"With the race in mind we had chosen a different tyre compound than Kimi so I was not too surprised with the outcome. I seem to lose most of my time in the middle sector, which we will investigate. We now look forward to the race when I believe that we will be in much better shape."

RON DENNIS

"A great performance from both drivers and clearly a step forward by the whole team. Hopefully we will have a dry race tomorrow which I think will be better for everybody."

NORBERT HAUG

"An excellent performance by Kimi. It's a pity that on his quickest run he hit sand from a competitor and ran a little wide in the middle sector - otherwise it would have been very close as his best sector times show. The whole package worked well today and David also is in a good position for the race tomorrow."

David Coulthard: Chassis 07
Kimi Raikkonen: Chassis 03
T-car (Kimi): Chassis 08

-mclaren-