Pizzonia learned qualifying lesson

Test driver Antonio Pizzonia had his debut race with Williams at the German Grand Prix and did a creditable job to bring home two points in seventh place. However, the Brazilian could perhaps have done better if he had qualified further up the grid, something he believes taught him a lesson.

Antonio Pizzonia.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

Pizzonia was close to the pace of teammate Juan Pablo Montoya in practice sessions at Hockenheim and in preliminary qualifying he was second -- just three just hundredths down on Montoya's provisional pole. But in the final, grid position deciding session, Antonio only managed 11th.

"First qualifying was really good," said Pizzonia, according to the team website. "We were quite surprised with the pace and we thought we could be on pole for sure, or the front row, but it just didn't happen in the all important qualifying session."

"It was a good lesson," he admitted. "In testing, if you make a mistake, or you make one with the car, you always have a second chance. Here we changed the car and it was quite different. I learned a lot from that."

Pizzonia started from 10th on the grid, due to BAR's Jenson Button suffering a 10 place demotion penalty. The seventh place result was not too bad but Pizzonia is sure he can do more. "It felt great to be back racing," he commented. "We scored two points, but it could be better. I know I can do a good job."

It's yet to be seen if Pizzonia will be back in competition at the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 15th. Williams has been deciding race-by-race whether Antonio or fellow tester Marc Gen? should stand in for the injured Ralf Schumacher -- Ralf is hoping to return for Hungary but needs medical clearance first.