Ferrari dominated today's first qualifying session in Imola, Michael Schumacher putting the disappointments of the first three races behind him to set the fastest time in front of team mate Rubens Barrichello.  Williams were next, Ralf Schumacher heading Juan Pablo Montoya, while Mark Webber was a strong fifth for Jaguar Racing.  The BARs of Jensen Button and Jacques Villeneuve were next up, followed by the two McLarens and the top ten was completed by Heinz-Harald Frentzen's Sauber.

Giancarlo Fisichella produced a strong lap to set the 11th fastest time, his Jordan Ford scything around the track in 1m22m724s while team mate Ralph Firman was back in 17th place on this, his first time ever driving at Imola.  Firman's lap looked very good over the first two sectors, but he appeared to lose some time in sector three when the car snapped into oversteer coming out of one of the chicanes.  Toyota had a disappointing day relative to their early season performances, Olivier Panis and Christiano da Matta 12th and 18th, while the Renaults of Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli could only manage 13th and 16th positions.  With the second Sauber of Nick Heidfeld and second Jaguar of Antonio Pizzonia between the Renaults, the back of the field was brought up by the two Minardis.

The weather in Imola has been bright, sunny and warm, and in the near perfect conditions there have been few incidents.