The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
76°F
Current Conditions
Scattered clouds
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Alonso in position to capture 3rd straight Formula One pole

Associated Press

Fernando Alonso already has established himself as one of the most talented young drivers in Formula One.

Saturday, the championship leader showed just how much control he has behind the wheel.

Having limited himself to fewer practice laps than any of his top competitors, the 23-year-old Spaniard finished second – just three thousandths of a second behind McLaren-Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen – in the first qualifying session for the San Marino Grand Prix.

Renault driver Alonso is in good position to capture his third straight pole in today’s second qualifying session. Times from both days will be combined to determine the starting grid for the race three hours later.

“He has not done a lot of running this weekend, and to be able to attack the circuit so well after a limited program is a credit to him,” said Renault’s engineering chief, Pat Symonds.

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, off to the worst start of his career, was 0.374 seconds back in third for Ferrari.

Schumacher logged 59 practice laps around the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit Friday and Saturday. Raikkonen completed 37 laps, while Alonso ran just 20.

“We prepared for the race a little bit differently this weekend, not running many laps, but everything was ready for qualifying,” Alonso said. “Historically, this has been quite a tough track for our team and so it’s a nice surprise to be not only competitive, but fighting for pole position.”

Seven different teams took the top seven positions Saturday.

Williams-BMW’s Mark Webber was fourth and Jenson Button of BAR Honda, who was the fastest driver in practice, stood fifth entering today.

Toyota’s Jarno Trulli, second to Alonso in the standings, was sixth, with Sauber’s Felipe Massa seventh.

No matter how Alonso performs this weekend, he will take at least a share of the championship lead into his home Spanish GP in Barcelona in two weeks.

Having won the last two races from the pole position and with 26 points, Alonso has a 10-point lead on Trulli.