US GP: Super Aguri Saturday qualifying notes

Super Aguri F1 Team driver Takuma Sato was only three seconds off the pace of Michael Schumacher's Ferrari during the third free practice session this morning. The running got off to a slow start with many teams opting for later start times, resulting in a busy track during the second half of the session.

In the afternoon Takuma drove a solid first Qualifying session to finish in 18th position ahead of Rosberg (Williams), Trulli (Toyota) and Luizzi (Scuderia Toro Rosso). Rosberg's failure to attend an FIA weigh-in meant an unscheduled call to the scales for SAF1 Team driver Franck Montagny who, with very little running time left in the first Qualifying session, suffered an electronics complication that prevented him from setting a fastest timed lap for position.

Takuma Sato:

"It was a fantastic Qualifying session. We made good progress throughout the practice sessions and the car has felt good all weekend. To be able to set our best Qualifying position and to be competitive in quite gusty and very hot conditions is great. I am extremely happy to be in this position for the race tomorrow and would like to thank everyone in the team for their hard work so far this weekend."

Franck Montagny:

"It has been a bad day, again. During Qualifying we had another problem and this cannot keep happening every race weekend. It makes it extremely difficult to concentrate on what you are supposed to be doing because you have to focus on solving the problems and not on making progress. I hope we have a better day tomorrow but right now I am very disappointed about this Qualifying position for me."

Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal:

"The team did a very good job today. Our only problem, but a major one, was with the electronics on Franck's car. I do not know why this continues to happen, but we have to find a solution. Setting a Qualifying time is so important and I feel very sorry for Franck. The opposite can be said of Taku's session today. He did a very good job, his qualifying time was perfect and his car was performing well."

"Taku's mechanics and engineers did a great job today and I am very happy that we finished in 18th position for the first time. I am especially happy for Taku as he enjoys this circuit and has fond memories from the US Grand Prix in 2004 when he achieved his first podium. I hope that we have a good race tomorrow and a good result from both Taku and Franck."

Takuma Sato
Chassis: SA05-05
Grid Position: 18th
Best Lap Time: 1:13.496

Franck Montagny
Chassis: SA05-02
Grid Position: 22nd
Best Lap: 1:16.036

-superaguri-