Monaco GP Saturday Stewart notes

Monaco, Saturday 15th May, 1999

STEWART-FORD NOTES & QUOTES Monaco Grand Prix: Qualifying

Rubens Barrichello will start his 100th Grand Prix from fifth on the grid - continuing his unbroken streak of top five qualifying performances so far this season.

Johnny Herbert will line up on the seventh row after setting the 13th fastest time after his last flying lap was ruined by yellow flags.

Rubens finished second in Monaco in 1997 - Stewart-Ford's first podium finish.

RUBENS BARRICHELLO  Car No.16 (SF3-04)
Time: 1:21.530                        Position: 5th

'I was pretty content with fourth place for most of the session so to finish fifth is slightly worse than I was hoping for. Still, at the end of the day, to be beaten only be the McLarens and Ferraris again is a good performance by the team. I'm happy with my tyre choice, so if I have a trouble free race I'm looking for a podium finish for the second consecutive race.'

JOHNNY HERBERT  Car No.17 (SF3-05)
Time: 1;22.248                        Position: 13th

'I'm disappointed to end up 13th. My times showed that on my last flying lap I could have clinched eighth spot but I had to back off in the last sector when the yellow flag came out after Damon Hill had his problem. The car felt very good this morning on full tanks so I have to be confident about my chances in the race.'

PAUL STEWART, Deputy Chairman, SGP

'Another great job by the whole team. It's nice to be battling away with the McLarens and Ferraris again. Rubens drove well again to secure a spot in the top five for the third straight race, which shows that we are consistently on the pace of the front runners. Johnny was three tenths up on his previous best lap when he encountered the yellow flags so he wasn't rewarded with the higher place on the grid he certainly deserved. Still, having a lap spoiled like that, is part of the lottery of qualifying at Monaco.'

NEIL RESSLER, Vice-President, Research & Vehicle Technology, Ford

'It's good to see that we are continuing our early season momentum by once again proving ourselves front runners. We experienced no mechanical problems today and will be using the higher rev limit for the race, as we did during qualifying today.'