By Michelin Sport
October 22 2006

Kimi Raikkonen was the fastest Michelin runner during qualifying for tomorrow's season-closing Brazilian Grand Prix. The Finn will start from the front row of the grid after lapping the high-speed, 2.677-mile Interlagos circuit in 1:11.299. World championship leader Fernando Alonso will line up fourth as he pursues a second straight F1 world title. No matter what else happens tomorrow, a top-eight finish will be enough for the Spaniard. His championship rival Michael Schumacher starts 10th after suffering a technical problem.

Six Michelin drivers have qualified in the top 10. Raikkonen and Alonso will be joined by Rubens Barrichello, Giancarlo Fisichella, Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica.

Nick Shorrock
Formula One Director
Michelin

"That wasn't one of the easiest sessions we've had this year. Our main rival is clearly very quick over a single lap but from a race perspective we feel very confident about our pace and consistency. Our tyres were not in their ideal operating window in this afternoon's warmer weather, but Kimi Raikkonen did a terrific job and Renault is in a very good situation as it chases another Formula One world title double.

"Between them, our partner teams will be using five Michelin products tomorrow – a blend of five different casings and three different compounds. It has been a long, hard season but I'm sure our tyres will be as effective during the final 71 laps as they have been throughout the campaign."