Canadian GP qualifying notes

Canadian GP - A Family Affair
By Erica Southey - Motorsport.com

Rubens Barrichello and Nick Heidfeld were the center of attention with their high-speed crashes causing the session to be red flagged on both counts. First to go, was Barrichello who mounted the second curb of a chicane too far which unsettled the Ferrari and sent the car nose first heading for the wall. Just inches before impact, Barrichello managed to turn the car slightly possibly avoiding more damage. Heidfeld carrying too much speed out of a chicane found himself up close and personal with the wall. Thankfully both drivers escaped uninjured though the same couldn't be said for the cars.

Mika Hakkinen who hoped for a good position could only manage fourth row on the grid alongside, Kimi Raikkonen in the Sauber, while teammate David Coulthard managed second row. Jarno Trulli in the Jordan shone to take place alongside Coulthard. Olivier Panis in the BAR, completed sixth position whereas local hero Jacques Villeneuve made it to ninth on the grid. Ricardo Zonta in the Jordan filling in for Heinz-Herald Frentzen, made it to 12th on the grid for tomorrow's Canadian GP.

Following yesterday's verbal altercation, Jacques Villeneuve ironically is sharing the fifth row of the grid with Juan-Pablo Montoya with Villeneuve having the slight advantage.

It was an all-family affair with the Schumacher brothers sharing front row. There will probably be some sort of brotherly discussion between Ralf and Michael to clear out any possible misunderstanding that could arise from the start. Michael dominated the session by bettering times opposing his. Ralf on the other hand shadowed brother Michael to remind him that the BMW power will be there to haunt him all the way.

Fernando Alonso in the Minardi was first go out on track but went off at the first corner. It seems that Minardi has not quite found the set-up to muster Circuit de Gilles Villenueuve, because both cars are at the back of the grid. Just in front of them, are Jenson Button in the Benetton and Luciano Burti in the Prost.

Following his promising third in Free Practice, Eddie Irvine in the Jaguar looked set to qualify well, but found himself lower down the order behind teammate Pedro de la Rosa. It were the Saubers that impressed. Raikkonen made it to the top ten, while Heidfeld despite his crash made it to 11th on the grid.

The wall out of the last corner before the straight has been like a magnet to drivers and today did not prove any different.

All eyes no doubt will be on Canadian Golden Boy, Jacques Villeneuve and CART rookie sensation, Juan-Pablo Montoya at the start of tomorrow's Canadian Grand Prix. Afterall, Villeneuve has taken the position as teacher with the comment that ".............. if he isn't intelligent enough to comprehend then maybe we will have to teach him a lesson on the track."

Tune in tomorrow at 14:00 for another episode from the most popular series: Formula 1 -My brother, My enemy.

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