Monaco GP: Toyota Sunday qualifying notes

After what could have been the final Sunday morning qualifying session of the year, Panasonic Toyota Racing's Jarno Trulli moved up two places to 5th on the grid for this afternoon's Monaco Grand Prix. Ralf Schumacher put in just one installation lap in the new car which the team built up after his accident yesterday afternoon. Both drivers will now do their best to score points in this afternoon's exhausting race.

TUNNEL MISSION

Jarno Trulli pushed to the limit around Monaco this morning to move up two places to 5th on the grid. The result keeps up Jarno's record of qualifying in the top five at every race this year.

Jarno Trulli:

"I am very happy with the lap, which was a big improvement on yesterday. I was really on the limit at several parts of the circuit so I'm glad to have held the lap together until the end. It means I go up two positions to 5th on the grid. Obviously grid position is very important here so a place in the top five is a good place to start. Then it's important to get a good rhythm in the race and not make any mistakes. Anything can happen in Monaco so we'll have to play a waiting game and see what transpires."

THE ONLY WAY IS UP

Ralf Schumacher will line up at the back of the grid for today's Monaco Grand Prix following his accident yesterday. Now Ralf will give everything around the street circuit this afternoon as he bids to move up through the field.

Ralf Schumacher:

"This morning we just put in an installation lap on the new car. Obviously it's not ideal to go into a race after so little running but I've been in the business long enough that it should not be a problem. Of course Monaco is the wrong race to start at the back but anything can happen here over the course of 78 hard laps. The important thing here is to finish the race without going off. That's never easy but if you can manage it you never know where you might end up."

THE FULL MONTE

After a positive morning session, Panasonic Toyota Racing goes into this afternoon's Monaco Grand Prix looking to get both cars to the finish of this gruelling event.

Dieter Gass -- Chief Race Engineer:

"Jarno did a very good lap. He picked up the positions which we were targeting, and did as much as we thought it was realistic to hope for. He looks well set for the race so we have to be happy with the qualifying result."

"With Ralf, because we knew we were starting last anyway we just did a lap to make sure the car was okay. It's obviously going to be difficult for him this afternoon but his race performances this year show he will give everything today to finish as high as possible. We have also seen many races here where a lot of cars have retired. It's a matter of staying out of trouble, bringing the cars home and picking up as much as we can."

Jarno Trulli
Car 16, Chassis TF105/02
Second Qualifying Classification: 5th
Lap Time: 1m17.401s (+1.120s)
Laps: 3
Aggregate Qualifying Classification: 5th
Agg. Time: 2m32.590s (+2.267s)
Grid: 5th

Ralf Schumacher
Car 17, Chassis TF105/03
Second Qualifying Classification: 17th
Lap Time: No time
Laps: 1
Aggregate Qualifying Classification: 18th
Agg. Time: No time
Grid: 18th

-toyota-