2006 F1 Spanish GP - Circuit de Catalunya

[Vaigra]

Qualifying over and done with, the Renualts on the front row, followed by the two Ferraris

Originally Posted by Formula1.com

Fernando Alonso gave his countrymen what they wanted in Barcelona on Saturday afternoon, by taking his second consecutive pole position with a lap of 1m 14.648s. And, crucially for Renault’s strategy, Giancarlo Fisichella backed him with a strong lap of 1m 14.709s, which was good enough to resist Michael Schumacher’s final challenge which left the German third on 1m 14.970s. With Ferrari team mate Felipe Massa posting 1m 15.442s, Renault and their greatest title rivals occupied the prime positions. In the closing stages Jenson Button tumbled from fifth place as Honda team mate Rubens Barrichello banged in a lap of 1m 15.885s, which was then matched by Ralf Schumacher in the Toyota. With Jarno Trulli also improving, to 1m 15.976s, Button’s 1m 16.008s left him on the outside of the fourth row. On the fifth, Kimi Raikkonen seemed unobtrusive on his way to 1m 16.015s for McLaren as Nick Heidfeld’s 1m 17.144s left his BMW Sauber 10th.

The first session proved disastrous for David Coulthard, who went off in Turn 3 on his first flying lap and backed his Red Bull into the wall. With the rear wing torn off, together with much of the rear suspension, the hapless Scot was clearly through for the day and would be the 22nd man on the grid.

The session also weeded out another Scott, Speed, who lapped his Toro Rosso in 1m 17.361s for 17th fastest. There was a bit of a gap to Tiago Monteiro’s Midland on 1m 17.702s, while Christijan Albers was unhappy to be blocked by one of the Super Aguris en route to 1m 18.024s. Takuma Sato was 20th on 1m 18.920s, leaving Franck Montagny 21st. With Jacques Villeneuve’s engine penalty applied, however, his BMW Sauber fell to 22nd, promoting all of this bunch a place.

The next session accounted for Mark Webber, who lapped his Williams in 1m 15.502s but got bumped at the last moment when Giancarlo Fisichella improved. It meant the Australian would go missing from the top-ten shootout for the first time. Next came a very unhappy Juan Pablo Montoya on 1m 15.801s, Nico Rosberg on 1m 15.804s, Villeneuve on 1m 15.847s, Christian Klien on 1m 15.928s and Vitanonio Liuzzi on 1m 16.661s. With Villeneuve’s fall, Klien and Liuzzi also made up a place in the order.

That left Michael Schumacher, Fisichella, Trulli, Alonso, Button, Ralf Schumacher, Massa, Barrichello, Raikkonen and Heidfeld to go on to the final session.

With Fisichella second, Renault are ideally poised to have the Italian hold back the Ferraris while Alonso builds up enough of a lead to stop before the red cars, if indeed it transpires that the blue cars were running a little lighter. But perhaps it was the Ferraris with a little it less in their tanks and a mountain to climb come the race. Either way, with Button and Raikkonen apparently on high fuel runs, the stage is set for a great Spanish Grand Prix.

“We had no problems and we did our job in the car,” Alonso said after clinching his first home pole. “Tomorrow we have to think of victory; it’s possible.”

Predictions for the race tomorrow? I'm hoping the Ferrari's are able to go longer stints, as Barcelona doesn't have too many overtaking areas, but I'd love for MS to take Alonso like that amazing move by FS at Suzuka last year through the 180R corner.
I think it'll be a close race but I couldn't predict a winner. It's too close at the top at the moment, in my opinion.

[RazaBlade]

What an awesome finish to the quali session, prob the best I can remember of the new setup. A bit lucky for Alonso, Fisi could so easily have pipped him.... would have been a bit embarassing!! And kudos to Barichello again, good to see him getting back into the swing of things. I hope Fisi and Barichello can convert their positions into race points, instead of sliding down the field.

After the first few laps, an interesting race would be Alonso, Schumi, Fisi, Massa. Id rather see an Alonso-Schumi fight than watching Fisi holding the two ferraris back.

[ZeTurbo]

Originally Posted by RazaBlade

After the first few laps, an interesting race would be Alonso, Schumi, Fisi, Massa. Id rather see an Alonso-Schumi fight than watching Fisi holding the two ferraris back.

You can be sure shumi will make a very agressive start in order to get ahead of fisi.

should make for a very interesting race...

[Dino Scuderia]

I think Ferrari will win by strategy again.

[Daz27]

Was the Schu heavy on fuel?

[fpv_gtho]

Looks like another heavy strategy for Williams. Hopefully they dont repeat the mistake from Germany by doing one half race distance stint, followed by 2 quarter race distance stints

Another good performance by Barrichello so far. Hopefully he can keep it together at the start though.

Surprised to see both Toyota's so high up. I know RS has shown race pace, but Trulli hasnt, and to see him so high up is a bit of a worry for everyone stuck behind him. Trulli train here we go again.

Heidfeld will be glad to get some form back over Villeneuve, although its not him that needs to fight for his seat this year.

[Zytek_Fan]

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

Looks like another heavy strategy for Williams. Hopefully they dont repeat the mistake from Germany by doing one half race distance stint, followed by 2 quarter race distance stints

Another good performance by Barrichello so far. Hopefully he can keep it together at the start though.

Surprised to see both Toyota's so high up. I know RS has shown race pace, but Trulli hasnt, and to see him so high up is a bit of a worry for everyone stuck behind him. Trulli train here we go again.

Heidfeld will be glad to get some form back over Villeneuve, although its not him that needs to fight for his seat this year.

JV could have started 4th if it wasn't for the engine penalty...

[fpv_gtho]

Youre deluded if you think hes fast enough to be among the Ferrari's and Renault's. Not even McLaren or Honda have that speed right now.

[pimento]

I wish the race wasn't shown here after midnight, I have work tomorrow.... gotta get me one of them HDD recorder dealies...

[Rockefella]

Hmm, didn't catch qualifying but I can bet Alonso has quite a package set-up for his home country. I hope the McLarens get competitive again.. seeing a Ferrari/McLaren/Renault battle would be stellar.

[Zytek_Fan]

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

Youre deluded if you think hes fast enough to be among the Ferrari's and Renault's. Not even McLaren or Honda have that speed right now.

I know that The BMW Sauber is a mid field runner I'd like to see a win from McLaren or Honda but I doubt that will happen

[fpv_gtho]

Originally Posted by Zytek_Fan

I know that The BMW Sauber is a mid field runner I'd like to see a win from McLaren or Honda but I doubt that will happen

So then this was..??

JV could have started 4th if it wasn't for the engine penalty...

[Jack_Bauer]

Wow, well that was possibly an even more boring race than the Nurburgring last week.

It's nice that Alonso won his home GP, surely a great occassion for him and for the throngs of Spanish fans. Renault seemed to have Ferrari just about beaten for pace all race long, reversing the tide of the last couple of races. Solid second for Schumi, although Fisico did his level best to hand P2 to Michael on a plate with hugely mediocre mid-race pace and a trip through the gravel trap in turn 3.

Next to the Ferraris and Renaults everyone else was just nowhere. McLaren and Honda seem pretty much level on pace but some way short of the pace setters. Raikkonen had a quiet but decent race in fifth, but could've had a decent battle with Button if it weren't for the fact he got stuck behind teammate Barrichello for the whole first stint. Rubens seems to have reversed the progress he's made the last couple of weeks, his race pace was fairly poor.

Thinking back I can't remember a single noteworthy pass for position out on the track. A few people got ahead during the pitstop windows but other than that it was just a procession. Not that the 130,000 Spanish fans care much I'm sure. They'll be partying long into the night in Barcelona, Oviedo and elsewhere en Espana.

Oh well, lets hope for something a little more exciting in Monte Carlo.

Results
1 F. Alonso Renault 1:26:21.759
2 M. Schumacher Ferrari + 18.502
3 G. Fisichella Renault + 23.951
4 F. Massa Ferrari + 29.859
5 K. Räikkönen McLaren + 56.875
6 J. Button Honda + 58.347
7 R. Barrichello Honda + 1 laps
8 N. Heidfeld BMW + 1 laps
9 M. Webber Williams + 1 laps
10 J. Trulli Toyota + 1 laps
11 N. Rosberg Williams + 1 laps
12 J. Villeneuve BMW + 1 laps
13 C. Klien Red Bull + 1 laps
14 D. Coulthard Red Bull + 1 laps
15 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso + 1 laps
16 T. Monteiro Midland F1 + 3 laps
17 T. Sato Super Aguri + 4 laps
Did not finish
18 C. Albers Midland F1 + 17 laps
19 S. Speed Scuderia Toro Rosso + 19 laps
20 R. Schumacher Toyota + 35 laps
21 JP. Montoya McLaren + 48 laps
22 F. Montagny Super Aguri + 55 laps

[Vaigra]

Think you've summed it up perfectly there J_B.
Alonso pulled away a second a lap from the start, and it was pretty much set from there.
Surprised to see MS going that much longer on the first stint, shows they had good one-lap pace, but not overall race pace.

[RazaBlade]

Fisi needs a kick up the arse....

Schumacher is a legend. Turning around the Ferrari from last season to bring it pretty level par with the Renaults is nothing short of amazing. Look what happened to the McLarens. Puts the Red progress in perspective.

Well done Alonso, worthy champion.