Formula 1

Belgian GP: Toyota Saturday qualifying notes

Panasonic Toyota Racing will line up with two cars in the top five of the grid for tomorrow's Belgian Grand Prix after a storming performance in this afternoon's qualifying. On another day of mixed weather conditions at Spa-Francorchamps, the track ...

Published: Sep 10, 2005, 8:33 PM

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Panasonic Toyota Racing will line up with two cars in the top five of the grid for tomorrow's Belgian Grand Prix after a storming performance in this afternoon's qualifying. On another day of mixed weather conditions at Spa-Francorchamps, the track stayed dry for the entire session.

Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher reaped the benefits, recording the 4th and 6th fastest laps respectively. Fisichella's penalty for an engine change means that both Toyota drivers will move up one spot.

With both cars again on the clean side of the grid, Toyota will now head into Sunday's race aiming for another double points finish. The team currently stands in 4th place in the constructors' championship with 78 points, but it is aiming to reduce the gap to the top three tomorrow.

JARNO GLEE THERE

Last year's pole position star Jarno Trulli put in another impressive qualifying lap around Spa-Francorchamps to take 3rd on the grid for the Belgian Grand Prix, just two tenths off the pace.

Jarno Trulli:

"I honestly think that was a great lap. There were a few spots of rain during my first sector so I couldn't quite push as hard as I would have liked. But in general the car felt very well balanced so it was possible to push right to the limit, and that's what I did. Every sector of this lap is difficult but it felt quick, so I'm happy with where we've ended up."

"We've spent the weekend working to adjust the car for the tyres. We hope we've made a good choice and it means we are feeling confident about the race whatever the conditions. We're expecting a wet race so the spray could make life difficult but we all just have to get used to it and try our best."

SPA RING MATCH

Ralf Schumacher also made it into the top five of the grid for tomorrow's Belgian Grand Prix after another fighting lap around Spa-Francorchamps.

Ralf Schumacher:

"That was a reasonable qualifying lap given that I've found the car slightly difficult to drive this weekend. We went backwards and forwards with the tyre choice all morning and we changed the tyres just before the session, so that made things difficult. But it was a clean lap and both Jarno and I are happy to be starting so high up the grid tomorrow."

"There were a couple of spots of rain on my lap but that had no effect on the time. There could obviously be a lot more rain in the race so that could make things harder but hopefully being quite near the front of the grid there will not be quite so much spray. We'll be pushing hard for more points to close the gap on Ferrari."

DRY ARDENNES SEE WHAT HAPPENS

After a tremendous qualifying session, Panasonic Toyota Racing will be pushing for a double points finish in tomorrow's Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

Dieter Gass - Chief Race Engineer:

"That was obviously a very difficult day given the conditions that we have had all weekend. Yesterday's rain made it hard to do much preparation and we had the threat of more rain hanging over us throughout qualifying. But the whole team has worked very well in the most testing of conditions and we are happy with this result."

"Both drivers did good laps and we are as high up the grid as we could have expected to be. We feel we are very well prepared for the race so we're looking forward to another strong Sunday."

Jarno Trulli
Car 16, Chassis TF105/07
GRID: 3rd
First Practice Classification: 11th
Lap Time: 1m50.451s (+2.326s)
Laps: 9
Second Practice Classification: 3rd
Lap Time: 1m46.681s (+0.374s)
Laps: 14
Qualifying Classification: 4th
Lap Time: 1m46.596s (+0.205s)
Laps: 3

Ralf Schumacher
Car 17, Chassis TF105/05
GRID: 5th
First Practice Classification: 9th
Lap Time: 1m50.403s (+2.278s)
Laps: 8
Second Practice Classification: 5th
Lap Time: 1m47.054s (+0.747s)
Laps: 6th
Qualifying Classification: 6th
Lap Time: 1m47.401s (+1.010s)
Laps: 3

-toyota-

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