San Marino Grand Prix (Alonso wins 3rd race in a row!)

[Ed]

Post qualifying press conference with Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher now available here

[Graham Ross]

McLaren are finally up there. Pity Montoya isn't there this weekend but I am now convinced that things are not well between Montoya and McLaren

I have to say that I was impressed by Alonso's performance. With almost no running then bang he almost gets pole!
Michael did well and is fast but there is still a whole race to be run on those poor Bridgestones.
Good to see Webber up there too. Don't know why they sandbag so much in practice!
Button looking good too!

This is a driver track, the team-mates are so far apart you'd think they are in different cars!

I think the midfield will be shuffled as they are so close. At the front I'd say Kimi just because Renault may put extra fuel knowing that they start well!

[Julian Mayo]

McLaren are finally up there. Pity Montoya isn't there this weekend but I am now convinced that things are not well between Montoya and McLaren

I have to say that I was impressed by Alonso's performance. With almost no running then bang he almost gets pole!
Michael did well and is fast but there is still a whole race to be run on those poor Bridgestones.
Good to see Webber up there too. Don't know why they sandbag so much in practice!
Button looking good too!

This is a driver track, the team-mates are so far apart you'd think they are in different cars!

I think the midfield will be shuffled as they are so close. At the front I'd say Kimi just because Renault may put extra fuel knowing that they start well!

Graham, Webber does't sandbag, if you look at every meet he's been in he allways does the same. He starts with tyre selection, then follows a strict routine, whilst saving the car as much as possible. Whats to be gained in flogging it in practice, when he knows what the car can do, and what he can do?

[Ed]

2nd qualifying about to start. Air and track temperatures at 16 degrees.

Yesterday Kimi Raikkonen took provisional pole just 0.003 seconds faster than Fernando Alonso.
The gap from 1st to 13th is only 1.1 seconds. Expect to see some change in the order after this session as teams decide on fuel loads

Friesacher to go out first followed by Albers

[Ed]

Friescacher starts his flying lap

[Ed]

He sets a 1:30.564 (2.57.048 on aggregate)

Team-mate Albers next followed by Monteiro

[Ed]

Albers was 1.1 seconds up on his team-mate but loses it and spins off into the barriers!

[Ed]

Monteiro sets a 2:54.25 aggregate (1:29.152 - Q2)

Karthikeyan now then Liuzzi

[Ed]

Karthikeyan goes fastest with a 2:52.099 on aggregate (1:28.976 - Q2)

[Ed]

Liuzzi 3 seconds up at S2.

Goes fastest with a 2:48.155 on aggregate (1:26.351 - Q2)

First break

Top 5: Liuzzi, Karthikeyan, Monteiro, Friesacher, Albers

[Julian Mayo]

what's the weather ED?

[Ed]

Fisichella on track then Coulthard

[Ed]

16 degrees both air and track. Green track due to overnight rain

[Julian Mayo]

thnx

[Ed]

Fisichella tops the times as expected with a 2:46.710 on aggregate. A 1:25.002 in Q2