BUDAPEST, Hungary, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Ferrari's bid for a fourth straight constructor's title appears closer after Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher qualified on the front row on Saturday for the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring.
Barrichello edged his teammate during the one-hour session to capture his third pole position of the season and sixth of his career. The Brazilian came around the 2.470-mile circuit in one minute, 13.333 seconds.
"Today, to get everything working correctly was very difficult, so I am very pleased with this result, especially as I had to abort my first run, when I was caught up in someone else's accident," Barrichello said. "It was very enjoyable to take the pole on a circuit where it is always very complicated to set up the car."
Ferrari, which has won the constructors' championship 11 times, owns a 65-point lead over Williams-BMW with five races left.
Schumacher, who has already clinched his fifth World Drivers' Championship, can set a new record for the number of wins in a season with a victory on Sunday. The German has won nine of 12 races this season. Nigel Mansell of Britain is the only other Formula One driver with nine wins in a season.
"Rubens did a good job and I could not match it today," said
Schumacher, who is the defending champion and three-time winner
in Hungary. "There is no sense in trying for a final run, which
is why we decided to save a set of tires for tomorrow.
"Starting on the dirty track certainly won't help and the
important thing will be to maintain position. It would be
unrealistic to expect to make up a place from this position. I
am sure it will be an exciting start."
Schumacher's younger brother, Ralf, qualified third, following
by fellow Williams driver Juan Montoya of Colombia. Montoya,
Ralf Schumacher and Barrichello are fighting for second place in
the World Drivers' Championship, along with Scotland's David
Coulthard.
"I must say thanks to the team for having achieved such a good
starting position. I really did not expect this," Ralf
Schumacher said. "We have had a very difficult weekend so far,
going through ups and downs. I have never made so many changes
to my car than this during a qualifying session."
"Given the Ferrari superiority, especially in Budapest, second
row is not too bad," Montoya said. "But I am definitely not
happy with my qualifying result."
Coulthard qualified a disappointing 10th in his
McLaren-Mercedes.
Italians Giancarlo Fisichella and Jarno Trulli, Brazilian Felipe
Massa, Nick Heidfeld of Germany and Jenson Button of England
complete the top 10 qualifiers.
Arrows is missing from the grid. The cash-strapped team
continues to look for new investors and will not take part in
the race.
In addition, Malaysian Alex Yoong was replaced on the Minardi
team by Anthony Davidson of Britain. Davidson, who has spent
much of this year as a test driver for BAR, will start from the
20th spot. The 23-year-old Englishman won the 2000 Formula Ford
Festival and the European Formula Three Championship crown in
2001.
Sunday's race, the 13th of 17 in the Grand Prix series, covers
190 miles over 77 laps.
