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Friday Qualifying in Japan

RALPH FIRMAN 17th 1:33.057
CHASSIS NUMBER EJ13-04

"It’s great to be back here, it’s like my second home and the only circuit this year that I know really well. I’m really enjoying it and it’s only my second race coming back after the accident. I’m working well with the team and we’ve found a reasonably good balance but there’s still more time to find, especially at the first corner, and our final position is a bit disappointing."

GIANCARLO FISICHELLA 18th 1:33.313
CHASSIS NUMBER EJ13-05

"It wasn’t the best today. I made a small mistake at the last corner and lost maybe a couple of tenths of a second, but then we are three seconds slower than pole anyway. But, it’s my last race with Jordan and I will do my best because it’s important for us to score some more points. I’d like to do that for the guys because in two years with them, I’ve had a good time. Obviously this season has been a bit tough but nevertheless the atmosphere in this team is fantastic."

GARY ANDERSON
DIRECTOR OF RACE AND TEST ENGINEERING

"It’s a difficult track here: downforce is important and I’m afraid we haven’t got enough of it! This morning Motoyama did a very positive job in testing. He ran with quite a reasonable fuel load and did a good lap so I think his initiation into Formula One, just 40 laps, was very commendable."

SATOSHI MOTOYAMA
"I am happy to get this chance in Formula One, testing with Jordan and at my home Grand Prix circuit. It’s the first time I have ever driven a Formula One car and I was surprised at the engine power and, of course, the speed. I know the track very well which was good and enjoyable, but in Formula One I felt it was a completely different circuit!"

TESTING
Giancarlo Fisichella 4th 1:33.497 35 laps
Ralph Firman 6th 1:34.054 40 laps
Satoshi Motoyama 8th 1:35.044 40 laps

FREE PRACTICE
Ralph Firman 16th 1:33.306 18 laps
Giancarlo Fisichella 17th 1:33.956 17 laps

QUALIFYING

Driver Team Time
Trulli Renault(M) 1:30.281
RSchumacher Williams(M) 1:30.343
MSchumacher Ferrari(B) 1:30.464
Coulthard McLaren(M) 1:30.482
Raikkonen McLaren(M) 1:30.558
Alonso Renault(M) 1:30.624
Barrichello Ferrari(B) 1:30.758
Montoya Williams(M) 1:31.201
Webber Jaguar(M) 1:31.305
Heidfeld Sauber(B) 1:31.783
Sato BAR(B) 1:31.832
Frentzen Sauber(B) 1:31.892
Panis Toyota(M) 1:31.908
Da Matta Toyota(M) 1:32.256
Wilson Jaguar(M) 1:32.291
Button BAR(B) 1:32.374
Firman Jordan Ford(B) 1:33.057
Fisichella Jordan Ford(B) 1:33.313
Verstappen Minardi(B) 1:34.836
Kiesa Minardi(B) 1:36.181

10 Oct 2003 07:19