Post by Salem6 on Oct 11, 2003 9:31:36 GMT
Michael Schumacher struck the first blow in his title showdown with Kimi Raikkonen at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka today.
Schumacher: on target for title
The Ferrari driver had to settle for third place in first qualifying for Sunday's race as Renault's Jarno Trulli took top spot.
But Schumacher finished ahead of McLaren rival Raikkonen, although there was less than a tenth of a second between them.
Schumacher only needs one point in the season finale to claim a record sixth drivers' crown, while Raikkonen has to win and hope the German finishes outside the top eight to snatch the title.
Trulli is threatening to wreck Raikkonen's bid to become the youngest champion in history anyway as he followed up his quickest time in first practice by setting the pace in the single lap qualifying session.
The Italian, still searching for the maiden win of his career, finished 0.1 seconds ahead of Ralf Schumacher in the Williams-BMW.
Raikkonen, 24 next Friday, was fifth despite his narrow deficit to Schumacher with team-mate David Coulthard just outqualifying him to grab fourth spot.
Coulthard, who on Sunday will equal the record for the most races with one team by making his 132 appearance for McLaren, was easily the best of the Brits.
Justin Wilson was 15th quickest for Jaguar Racing but almost a second adrift of team-mate Mark Webber in his final race before the team decide if he should be given the job full-time next year.
Jenson Button posted a disappointing 16th fastest time for BAR-Honda having been hit with a blown engine in practice just two weeks after criticising his team's lack of reliability after it cost him a maiden podium.
Button was comfortably outqualified by Japanese team-mate Takuma Sato who was an excellent 11th quickest in his first attempt at the single lap qualifying after being called up to replace Jacques Villeneuve, who pulled out yesterday.
Ralph Firman was 17th but lived up to his own expectation by outqualifying fellow Jordan-Ford driver Giancarlo Fisichella by almost 0.3secs on a track where he was crowned Formula Nippon champion 12 months ago.
The 28-year-old from Norwich believes his vast experience of Suzuka will allow him to prove what he could achieve if he is retained next year having spent most of his rookie season racing on circuits he had never competed on before.
Schumacher: on target for title
The Ferrari driver had to settle for third place in first qualifying for Sunday's race as Renault's Jarno Trulli took top spot.
But Schumacher finished ahead of McLaren rival Raikkonen, although there was less than a tenth of a second between them.
Schumacher only needs one point in the season finale to claim a record sixth drivers' crown, while Raikkonen has to win and hope the German finishes outside the top eight to snatch the title.
Trulli is threatening to wreck Raikkonen's bid to become the youngest champion in history anyway as he followed up his quickest time in first practice by setting the pace in the single lap qualifying session.
The Italian, still searching for the maiden win of his career, finished 0.1 seconds ahead of Ralf Schumacher in the Williams-BMW.
Raikkonen, 24 next Friday, was fifth despite his narrow deficit to Schumacher with team-mate David Coulthard just outqualifying him to grab fourth spot.
Coulthard, who on Sunday will equal the record for the most races with one team by making his 132 appearance for McLaren, was easily the best of the Brits.
Justin Wilson was 15th quickest for Jaguar Racing but almost a second adrift of team-mate Mark Webber in his final race before the team decide if he should be given the job full-time next year.
Jenson Button posted a disappointing 16th fastest time for BAR-Honda having been hit with a blown engine in practice just two weeks after criticising his team's lack of reliability after it cost him a maiden podium.
Button was comfortably outqualified by Japanese team-mate Takuma Sato who was an excellent 11th quickest in his first attempt at the single lap qualifying after being called up to replace Jacques Villeneuve, who pulled out yesterday.
Ralph Firman was 17th but lived up to his own expectation by outqualifying fellow Jordan-Ford driver Giancarlo Fisichella by almost 0.3secs on a track where he was crowned Formula Nippon champion 12 months ago.
The 28-year-old from Norwich believes his vast experience of Suzuka will allow him to prove what he could achieve if he is retained next year having spent most of his rookie season racing on circuits he had never competed on before.