Front row good enough for Barrichello

Rubens Barrichello declared himself happy with today's second place in qualifying. "Getting a good position here is a reflection on a driver's ability as Suzuka requires not just skill behind the wheel but also an ability to set up the car," said ...

Rubens Barrichello declared himself happy with today's second place in qualifying. "Getting a good position here is a reflection on a driver's ability as Suzuka requires not just skill behind the wheel but also an ability to set up the car," said the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver. "Last year I struggled, but today I got it right. But Michael is very strong at this track and a place on the front row is good enough today."

Rubens Barrichello.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

Obviously, the accident suffered by Toyota's Allan McNish was the main talking point today, as it was a very high speed impact at the 130R and also because, with 24 minutes remaining, it delayed the session by one hour and fifteen minutes. "McNish's accident was frightening, but once we knew he was alright, it was a case of back to business," said Rubens. "In fact it was a bit like a test session as the interruption meant we had plenty of time to study the data and improve the car."

Any accident in racing is always a cause for concern and Barrichello gave his views on the level of safety at Suzuka. "McNish's accident showed that this circuit can still be quite dangerous," reckoned the Brazilian. "The 130R itself is not a dangerous turn, but the run-off area does not really offer enough space and they should improve this for next year."

Now, Barrichello is looking forward to the final race of the season. "Tomorrow, we will try and make a good start and then we will see how it develops," he said. "Bridgestone has provided us with a very good tyre for what is their home race and so it would be nice to pay them back with a good result. Obviously for me, it would be very special to win a third consecutive race."