David Coulthard took pole position for McLaren as the track got faster all the way through the 60-minute qualifying session.

'That was really exciting!' said Trulli, after setting his best time on his last flying lap. 'It almost feels as good as getting on the front row as Monaco last year! I really pushed hard and I feel that I did my best with a car which was very competitive. I knew I should be able to do well because, in the morning, I hadn't been pushing hard because the track still wasn't dry, but I knew the car felt good. I could see in qualifying that the track was a bit wet in the beginning but it was getting better and better. The thing to do was to wait right until the end. So I just had to keep calm! I went out at the right time, everything went well and, as I said, it was very exciting! So, my starting position is good and, since we have a competitive car, I'm hoping for a good result in the race.'

All 22 drivers had completed at least one quick lap early in the session in case the weather deteriorated. But the rain never came. Frentzen, however, had other problems.

'On my second quick run, I had a really hairy moment with a slower car,' said Heinz-Harald. 'The car felt really good but then I had massive understeer. We don't know at this stage what caused it but all I can say is that the balance of the car was very different all of a sudden. It's a pity because we were making good progress despite not having had the set-up time we wanted for qualifying due to the wet track in the morning. So it goes without saying that I'm disappointed with ninth place. I'll just have to see what I can do from there.'

Eddie Jordan said this was a good start to the European sector of the season. 'After the three long-haul races, it's good to have the convenience of our trucks and motor homes at the circuit,' said Jordan. 'And I'm delighted to see Jordan Grand Prix on the third row, in among the Williams and the Ferraris, particularly with the field being so competitive. Jarno did a great job and it's really unfortunate that Heinz-Harald got held up by traffic, otherwise he would have been right up there too. Now we have to translate this into more points tomorrow.'

Against all odds, the McLaren team dispatched Ferrari from the front of the grid, David Coulthard taking a superb pole position. Michael Schumacher's chances of winning his eighth successive pole position (a record he would have shared with Ayrton Senna) were lost when he made mistakes on each of his final two laps, the Ferrari driver having to give best to his brother as Ralf Schumacher qualified third for Williams.

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Jordan Grand Prix