MICHAEL SCHUMACHER is on pole for the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a lap of 1min 10.632secs.
This is his fourth USGP pole, and he is the only
F1 driver with more than one pole position at IMS. Schumacher, at 37, is the oldest driver currently in the series and now has 67 poles. Age and treachery beats out youth and good looks.
"But here on this circuit everything matches perfectly," he said, "We are quick and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't have a good resolution tomorrow. I very much look forward to putting myself into the books as the fifth time winner here. We like to please our supporters and fans, and we hope to make up for last year."
Schumacher is tied with JEFF GORDON, AL UNSER and RICK MEARS for victories at IMS. Schumacher didn't know that, when so told by BOB VARSHA on Thursday.
Second fastest is Schumacher's
Ferrari team-mate, FELIPE MASSA, the second front row start for the young Brazilian. Third through fifth are GIANCARLO FISICHELLA; RUBENS BARRICHELLO and 2005 F1 champion FERNANDO ALONSO.
American SCOTT SPEED will start 13th, his best earned starting position. He started twelfth at Malaysia, but he had advanced to that position after other drivers were sent to the back.
Speed said: "I am convinced we need to have more races in America, because we seem to have better luck in qualifying. This was the first time in several races that I didn't run into traffic. It's great to out-qualify the
Red Bull Racing guys!"
The F1 drivers were treated to warm sunny weather Saturday. For qualifying, they had blue cloudless skies with 91 degrees F, and the track temperature is 126 degrees F. The track was green after the Friday afternoon rainstorm.
Qualifying is broken into three sections. Those left in the final session start from scratch and try for their fastest laps near the end of that session, running early to burn off their fuel to go faster.
