Canadian GP Qualifying, Pole: Fernando Alonso (Renault) 1:14.942 (June 24, 2006)
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0 commentsThe points leader was fastest in all three sessions, with his first flying lap in the decisive third segment six-tenths up on the field, and a full 1.4 seconds quicker than title rival Michael Schumacher's best effort at the time.
Alonso couldn't improve on his 1:14.942 benchmark when he came out for a second attempt, but in the event he didn't need to.
It looked like Kimi Raikkonen was destined for second place until Giancarlo Fisichella stepped up to complete an all-Renault front row in the dying moments of qualifying, just over two-tenths slower than his team-mate.
Raikkonen had to settle for third.
The paddock is awash with rumours that Jarno Trulli is poised to put pen to paper on a contract extension with Toyota, so it was fitting that the Italian shook off his recent bad luck and claimed a season-best fourth on the grid.
Schumacher ended up fifth, his second flying lap shaving only three-tenths off his earlier time and leaving him still just over a second adrift of Alonso.
Even if the Ferrari is carrying more fuel, the time gap and the presence of three cars between Schumacher and Alonso will surely be unsettling for the former champion.
The Williams garage will have been an uncomfortable place after qualifying.
There will doubtless be delight at Nico Rosberg's sensational sixth place - his best grid position since taking third in Malaysia - but Mark Webber was furious with his rookie team-mate for apparently blocking him in the first session.
That left Webber 17th, and out.
It has been a tough weekend for Rosberg, for whom Montreal is a brand new track.
Gearbox problems meant that he only had 10 laps in Friday practice, so to get into the top ten was a superb achievement.
Rosberg was on the verge of being knocked out in Q1 until he rustled up a last minute flying lap that even included a spot of minor wall-banging.
Unfortunately he then incurred the wrath of his team-mate, who will start from the bottom quarter of the field for the second race in succession.
No such problems for Jenson Button this time.
Although the Hondas are not frontrunners in Canada, both Button and Rubens Barrichello made it into the final session and will start eighth and ninth respectively, between Juan Pablo Montoya and Felipe Massa.
It is the first time that Button has out-qualified Barrichello since Imola.
Surprisingly - and disappointingly for the home crowd - neither BMW Sauber made it into the top ten.
Jacques Villeneuve only needed to find another 0.019s to reach Q3, but instead he will start 11th.
This at least gives him the option of a heavy fuel strategy - a plan that has worked well for BMW this year.
Team-mate Nick Heidfeld took 13th, behind Christian Klien in the best of the Red Bulls, but ahead of Ralf Schumacher.
American Scott Speed will start in 18th for Torro Rosso.
Starting grid for the Canadian GP
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Fernando Alonso, Renault
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Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault
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Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren-Mercedes
- Jarno Trulli, Toyota
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Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
- Nico Rosberg, Williams-Cosworth
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Juan Pablo Montoya, McLaren-Mercedes
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Jenson Button, Honda
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Rubens Barrichello, Honda
- Felipe Massa, Ferrari
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Jacques Villeneuve, BMW-Sauber
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Christien Klien, Red Bull Racing-Ferrari
- Nick Heidfeld, BMW-Sauber
- Ralf Schumacher, Toyota
- Vitantonio Liuzzi, Toro Rosso
- David Coulthard, Red Bull Racing-Ferrari
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Mark Webber, Williams-Cosworth
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Scott Speed, Toro Rosso
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Tiago Monteiro, Midland
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Christien Albers, Midland
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Takuma Sato, Super Aguri-Honda
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Franck Montagny, Super Aguri-Honda
Date
May 1, 2006
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