Track dries for Sunday qualifying

The super typhoon forecast to hit Suzuka on Saturday passed by the Japanese circuit after changing course overnight on Friday, however heavy rain throughout the day left the track very wet at the start of qualifying on Sunday morning.   The rain having stopped on Saturday afternoon meant the track dried gradually throughout the morning, giving an advantage to the drivers who went out late in the final qualifying session on dry weather tyres. 

Nick Heidfeld and Timo Glock went out 4th and 5th on intermediate wet tyres while the circuit was still damp and they qualified in 16th and 17th positions.

Position Driver Team Time
1 Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:33.542
2 Schumacher Williams (M) 1:34.032
3 Webber Jaguar (M) 1:34.571
4 Sato BAR (M) 1:34.897
5 Button BAR (M) 1:35.157
6 Trulli Renault (M) 1:35.213
7 Fisichella Sauber (B) 1:36.136
8 Coulthard McLaren (M) 36.156
9 Villeneuve Renault (M) 1:36.274
10 Panis Toyota (M) 1:36.420
11 Alonso Renault (M) 1:36.663
12 Raikkonen McLaren (M) 1:36.820
13 Montoya Williams (M) 1:37.653
14 Klien Jaguar (M) 1:38.253
15 Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:38.637
16 Heidfeld Jordan Ford (B) 1:41.953
17 Glock Jordan Ford (B) 1:43.533
18 Bruni Minardi (B) 1:48.069
19 Baumgartner Minardi (B) -
20 Massa Sauber (B) -

10 Oct 2004 03:02