| 2001 Round 7 Qualifying report FIA Formula 3000 International Championship | ||||||
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| 2001 Round 7 Qualifying report FIA Formula 3000 International Championship | ||||||
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Qualifying
report.
Round 7. FIA F3000 International Championship.
Magny Cours, France. 29th June.
Coca-Cola
Nordic Racing driver Tomas Enge must feel that he is living through a Groundhog
day as he claimed pole for his second race in succession, with championship
rival Mark Webber second, yet again also.
Just one
week ago Enge and Super Nova Racing driver Mark Webber played cat and mouse with
the pole position at the Nurburgring, Germany. This time around Enge made sure
of his task, setting the fastest pole winning lap on his second tour of the
circuit in the opening session to take the pole for round seven of the
Federation Internationale de l’Automobile F3000 International Championship at
Magny Cours.
“I knew
when I arrived here that I must make the most of my tires as quickly into the
session as possible if I were to have any chance of pole,” said Czech
driver Enge. “This circuit is similar to Barcelona with the first session
being the quickest. I put everything I had into my first timed laps and it paid
off. Of course, coming here from the Nurburgring with my second win of the
season under my belt meant that I arrived full of confidence. It is also a
circuit that I like, especially the two fast chicanes and every kerb that you
cut gains you more and more time. Now, if I can repeat the fast start that I had
at the Nurburgring, then I am confident of getting my third race win of the
season tomorrow.”
“What
can you say about that?” replied Webber. “I was pretty fast around
here myself but whatever the team changed and whatever I did I could not match
his time. You have got to hand it to the guy, he was bloody fast today.”
So fast in
fact that his pole time of 1m27.436s was six tenths faster than Webber.
Patrick
Friesacher placed his Red Bull Junior Team Lola in third place on the grid,
edging out championship leader Justin Wilson, who finished fourth.
“I know
this circuit very well,” said Friesacher, “as I have a lot of
experience from racing here in Renault Campus. I have qualified twice in the top
three but failed to finish so I must make the most of my chance here tomorrow. I
am only half way through my first season so I am very happy with the way things
are going. If I can get a podium finish in the race then it would be a perfect
weekend for me.”
Wilson was
in two minds as to whether this would be a perfect weekend. “I really
don’t know what to think so far,” said the Briton. “I should be
happy as last season 13th place was the best that I could manage here
in qualifying and today I am fourth. However, both my championship rivals are in
front of me and to keep my lead in the series I need to be ahead of them both at
the end of the race. I must congratulate Tomas though, his lap was perfect and
there was just no way that I could manage to equal it.”
Mario
Haberfeld took fifth for Super Nova Racing, David Saelens (European Minardi)
sixth, Sebastien Bourdais (DAMS) seventh, Darren Manning (Arden Team Russia)
eighth, Jonathon Cochet (Prost Junior) ninth and Giorgio Pantano (Team
Astromega) tenth.
