MELBOURNE, March 4 (UPI) -- Giancarlo Fisichella took advantage of a break in the weather Saturday and drove his Renault to the provisional pole at the Australian Grand Prix.
In the first Formula One event of the season, Fisichella turned in a time of 1:33.171 around the 3.295-mile circuit. His qualifying effort came between two storms that soaked the track.
Five-time defending series champion Michael Schumacher was one of those who had to qualify in the rain.
One of many changes made in the series this year is a new method of qualifying. Drivers will earn their spot on the grid by combining qualifying times from Saturday and another session prior to the race Sunday.
Also new this year is a requirement that cars must use a single set of tires for qualifying and the entire race. Tires must last at least four times longer than they have in previous years.
Jarno Trulli had the second fastest time Saturday, followed by Mark Webber, Jacques Villeneuve and Christian Klien. Schumacher was the slowest driver of the 18 who turned in a qualifying lap.
