By BMW Sauber F1 Team
October 7 2006

It's true: the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers, Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, succeeded in securing better grid position in the qualifying sessions for the recent GPs. Nevertheless, they may be confident for tomorrow's race: Being ninth and twelfth on the grid represents a promising initial position for their goal to score points.

- Nick will start the race from row five, next to Williams driver Nico Rosberg, with Robert sharing row six with McLaren's Kimi Räikkönen.

- It's the second time this year Nick is going to start a race from ninth grid position - just as it was the case at Silverstone. In the Italian Grand Prix held at Monza, Nick secured his best 2006 grid position so far by qualifying third.

- Last year's Japanese Grand Prix was contested by none of the current BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers. Nick was still on the way to recovering from an injury and missed the rest of the season. Robert takes to the track in Suzuka for the first time in his career.

- The Japanese Grand Prix will be held over 53 laps on Sunday. With a track length of 5.807 kilometres, this equals a total distance of 307.573 minutes.