F3000 - 2001 Results

2001 Round 6 Qualifying report FIA Formula 3000 International Championship

June 23

Luxembourg

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FIA F3000 International Championship.
Round 6 (of 12). Nurburgring, Germany.
Qualifying report. Friday 22^nd June.

Czech Tomas Enge and Australian Mark Webber played cat and mouse for the full 90 minutes of qualifying for round six of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile Formula 3000 Championship, at the Nurburgring in Germany.

Coca-Cola Nordic Racing driver Enge, currently third in the drivers championship, managed to take the pole position early into the first 45 minute qualifying session. Webber managed to grab the pole on several occasions only to find Enge grabbing it back just as quick.

“The tires were at their best after five laps” explained Enge “and once I had found my groove I was able to keep putting in the fast laps.” For Enge, this was his second F3000 pole, his first being at Hockenheim last season when he went on to win the race in damp conditions.

“It seemed that every time I came past the pits I was leading, then all of a sudden it was Webber, so I had to pull out another lap.”

Webber, winner of the previous round in Monaco, was unable to find the little extra needed, finishing a mere 0.067s behind in second place. “I am happy to be on the front row of the grid for this race,” said Mark, “as it is one of those circuits where it can be very hard to overtake at. I felt that I could have held the pole, but Tomas pulled out an even quicker lap and I could not match it. The start here is very, very important and I intend to make the most of my position near the front. The only real problem here is the kerbs, which are similar to the ones at Imola and can do a lot of damage to the car if you catch them wrong.”

Championship leader Justin Wilson had problems with traffic and a car that veered from oversteer to understeer due to a balance problem, all of which saw him qualify down in seventh place. “It is a big disappointment for me today,” said Wilson, “as I really needed to be as near to the front as possible here if I am to stand any chance of extending my championship lead. All is not lost though, and I am confident that given a good start I should be in the points by the first corner.”

Ricardo Sperafico finally managed to repeat his season-opening pole position performance with third place. Having started the season so well with a pole in Brazil, his performances have dipped in recent races and the young Brazilian is keen to get back on track. “After my pole in Brazil, things had gone a little quite for me until Monaco, where I managed to score some points. Now I am confident that I can challenge both Tomas and Mark for the race lead, as long as the first corner does not turn into a problem for me as it did in Brazil where I only managed about 500 yards before being shunted off!”

David Saelens claimed fourth for the European Minardi outfit with French driver Sebastien Bourdais fifth for DAMS. Darren Manning, the Arden Team Russia driver who managed to qualify third at Monaco four weeks earlier, only to have a shunt on the opening lap, which dropped him down the order, joins them on the front half of the grid.

“After the problems in Monaco it is good to be back at the front of the grid,” explained the English driver. “I just hope that this time I will be able to keep out of trouble.”

Antonio Pizzonia (Petrobras Junior Team) claimed eighth, Ricardo Mauricio (Red Bull Junior) ninth and Giorgio Pantano (Team Astromega) was tenth.

The Prost Junior Team gave two new drivers their debut with Jonathon Cochet and Zsolt Baumgartner replacing Stephane Sarrazin (who replaced Nicolas Filiberti for the previous race) and Gabriele Varano. Cochet, winner of the Marlboro Masters and Pau F3 races last year will compete in only one round before resuming his race programme in the Formula Nissan Championship. Hungarian Baumgartner has been racing the German F3 Championship this year, but has now signed for the remainder of the season with Prost. He qualified in 23^rd place whilst Cochet was 18^th.