By pitpass.com (23/08/2003)
August 23 2003

Following Ralph Firman's massive crash in this morning's first free practice session the second Jordan will be driven by local hero Zsolt Baumgartner this afternoon. The Hungarian driver will be first out for this afternoon's all-important session followed by da Matta - who span on his 'hot' lap yesterday - Kiesa, Verstappen and Fisichella.

The Hungarian crosses the line and qualifying is underway. He completes the first sector in 30.345 and the second at 1:02.178. At the line he registers 1:26.678 to set the benchmark.

Cristiano da Matta is next out, the Brazilian has had a problematic weekend thus far. At the first split he posts 29.414, almost a second up on Baumgartner. At the second split it's 1:00.338, he's now 1.8s up on the Hungarian. At the line it's 1:23.982, a good lap.

Minardi's Danish star Nicolas Kiesa is next out. Through the speed-trap Nicolas in 10 mph down on the Toyota, posting 30.487 at the first split. At the second split the Dane posts 1:03.960 having lost a lot of time at the chicane. At the line it's 1:28.907 which puts him third or three.

Jos Verstappen takes to the track in the second Minardi. At the first split the Dutchman posts 30.076, he's only 0.6s down on da Matta. The Minardi driver pushes hard completing the second sector in 1:02.058. At the line it's 1:26.423 to go second ahead of Baumgartner.

Last out before the break is Giancarlo Fisichella. The Italian is 4 mph down on da Matta through the speed-trap, completing the first sector in 29.425, he's just 0.011 down on the Brazilian. At the second split the Roman posts 59.997 he's up on the Toyota by 0.3s. 1:2.726 at the line, the Jordan driver goes quickest.

At the first break it's Fisichella then da Matta, Verstappen, Baumgartner and Kiesa.

Justin Wilson is next out, the Englishman keen to impress this weekend. He's quick through the speed-trap and posts 29.677 at the first split. At the second split he posts 1:00.112, he's down on Fisichella by 0.116. At the line it's 1:23.660, a stunning final sector and good enough to take him to the top of the timesheets. The former Minardi driver was quickest of all in the last two sectors.

Jacques Villeneuve is on track, both BAR drivers complaining of a serious lack of grip. He's 6 mph down on da Matta through the speed-trap posting 29.414 at the first split, he's quickest thus far. At the second split it's 59.993 he's still quickest. He loses loads of time in the final sector and can only manage a disappointing fourth.

Team-mate Jenson Button is on track the Englishman marginally quicker than his team-mate through the speed-trap. At the first split it's 29.433, like JV he's quick in the first sector. At the second split it's 1:00.032, he's still quick.. but only just. The car is all over the place and as a result he can only manage third with a 1:23.847.

Hard to believe but championship hopeful Kimi Raikkonen is next out, rather than at the end of the session. He's slower than da Matta through the speed-trap, but only just. It's 29.147 at the first split he's over half-a-second up on Wilson. At the second split it's 59.125, he's now almost a second up on the Jaguar driver. 1:22.742 at the line the Finn goes quickest by almost a second, a good lap.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen is last out before the second break, what can the German do? The car is a little frisky but nonetheless at the first split Heinz-Harald posts 29.475. At the second split it's 1:00.831 he's 1.7s down on Raikkonen. At the line it's 1:24.569 which is only good enough for seventh, he'll be bitterly disappointed.

At the second break it's Raikkonen ahead of Wilson, Fisichella, Button, da Matta, Villeneuve, Frentzen, Verstappen, Baumgartner and Kiesa.

Nick Heidfeld is on track, the German has yet to secure a seat for 2004 so he needs to impress. He's very, very cautious on his 'out' lap but is only 4 mph down on da Matta through the speed-trap. 29.457 at the first split, just 0.3s down on Raikkonen. At the second split it's 59.961 followed by a 1:23.621 at the line to go second, a very good lap.

Now it's the turn of Michael Schumacher, the German needs a good grid position. He's a mere 0.1 mph slower than da Matta through the speed-trap. At the first split it's 29.139, he's 0.008s quicker than Raikkonen. At the second split it's 59.492, he's now 0.368s down on the Finn. 1:22.755 at the line, he goes second by 0.013s. Provisionally he's on the front row with Raikkonen but we still have eight drivers left to run.

Juan Pablo Montoya is quickest through the speed-trap and as a result posts 28.954 at the first split, he's quickest by 0.2s. At the second split the Colombian posts 59.068, he's lost time but he's still quickest. At the line it's 1:22.180 he's quickest by over half-a-second. A superb lap from the WilliamsF1 driver.

Olivier Panis is next out, the Frenchman has looked very good this weekend. 29.119 at the first split, 0.1s down on Montoya. At the second split it's 59.874, he's now 0.8s down on the Colombian. At the line the Toyota driver posts 1:23.369 to go fourth, another good lap.

Last out before the final break is Fernando Alonso in the Renault. At the first split the Spaniard posts 29.180, he's already 0.2s down on Montoya. At the second split the Renault driver posts 58.733 he's made up time and is now 0.3s quicker than the Colombian! 1:21.688 at the line he goes quickest by 0.492, a fantastic lap from the youngster.

At the final break it's Alonso ahead of Montoya, Raikkonen, Michael, Panis, Heidfeld, Wilson, Fisichella, Button and da Matta.

Rubens Barrichello is next out, he's Bridgestone's last hope of pole position here.

At the first split the Brazilian posts 28.876 to go quickest by 0.3s followed by a 58.722 at the second split, he's still quickest. At the line it's 1:22.180 exactly the same time as Montoya, unfortunately it's only good enough for third.

David Coulthard is next out, the Scot only just making it when his car appeared to stall as he left his garage. At the first split the McLaren driver posts 29.157, he's 0.1s faster than Alonso. At the second split the Scot posts 59.688 he's lost almost a full second. At the line it's 1:23.060 as the McLaren driver goes sixth behind Schumacher. His first sector was superb but from then on it was downhill all the way.

Mark Webber's benchmark is 1:23.660, team-mate Justin Wilson's time. At the first split the Australian posts 29.046 he's 0.1s quicker than Alonso, very impressive thus far. At the second split the Jaguar clocks 58.708 he's still quickest, but only just. At the line it's 1:22.027, he's goes second a mere 0.3s slower than the Spaniard.

Ralf Schumacher is next out, the German really needs to be ahead of his team-mate here. He's quickest through the speed-trap by 3 mph, looking good. At the first split it's 28.629, he's quickest by half-a-second. At the second split the WilliamsF1 posts 58.663, he's still quickest but it's tight. 1:21.944 over the line to go second but ahead of Montoya.

Last out is Jarno Trulli, can he take his first pole position or is his team-mate going to start from pole for the second time in his F1 career.

At the first split the Italian posts 29.264 he's down on his team-mate but it's marginal. At the second split it's 59.160 he's now 0.4s down on his team-mate. Over the line the Italian posts 1:22.610 to go sixth, where did it all go wrong.

Fernando Alonso start from pole for the second time this season ahead of Ralf, Webber, Montoya, Barrichello, Trulli, Raikkonen, Michael, Coulthard and Panis.

The big surprises this session have to be Fernando and Webber while Jarno Trulli was disappointing.

As expected the Michelin runners rule the roost with Nick Heidfeld the highest placed non-Ferrari Bridgestone runner in eleventh.

The Hungaroring is notorious for the fact that it's layout doesn't encourage overtaking, however with a revised layout and precious championship points up for grabs hopefully the drivers will make a special effort tomorrow.


This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.