Home Pole for Massa as Schumacher hits problems

teamcar - The 2006 championship took another turn for the worst this afternoon at Interlagos for Michael Schumacher and Ferrari. After blitzing the lap record in the second 15-minute qualifying session, Schumacher took to the circuit for his final run only for his 248 F1 to hit mechanical problems. While the team has claimed the Pole Position courtesy of Felipe Massa, more mechanical gremlins have fallen Schumacher’s way.

With Schumacher coasting back to the Ferrari pit to effectively retire from the third qualifying session, the top ten battled for position. It was Massa who showed the way in comprehensive style in the second Ferrari, stopping the clocks in a very rapid 1:10.680s best.

Massa, undoubtedly very light on fuel, enjoys a six-tenth of a second advantage over Kimi Raikkonen who once again did a tremendous job in what is final Grand Prix with McLaren Mercedes. Like Ferrari, it was a mixed day for the McLaren team as Pedro de la Rosa again failed to shine and starts 12th. With nothing to lose in either title race, perhaps the team should have taken the opportunity of assessing Lewis Hamilton in race conditions…

Giancarlo Fisichella starts in sixth position in the second Renault – just 0.062s slower than Alonso - and with Michael Schumacher starting at best tenth, depending on what the Ferrari squad decide to do with the 248 F1, Renault will be very confident heading into the 71-lap Brazilian Grand Prix tomorrow afternoon.