Mika Hakkinen will be in pole position for tomorrow's San Marino Grand Prix at Imola. Hakkinen was quickest in qualifying today finishing ahead of championship leader Michael Scumacher, who will start in second place. In a dramatic last gasp effort, Hakkinen secured the lead, snatching it from his arch rival. David Couthard starts in third beside Reubens Barichello, fourth in the second Ferrari.
Hakkinen was relieved to have secured the lead. "I was right on the limit today - even beyond it, but you have to do that in qualifying," Hakkinen said. "It was exciting, but it is not enjoyable when you are doing it, but afterwards you can say that was a good result," he added.
"I am very upset about myself," Schumacher said. "I made a very bad mistake in my third run. I was four-tenths up and I just destroyed it. It would have been very easy on pole today. Being on the front row gives me some pleasure, but not the pleasure I wanted."
Now with 24 career pole starts, the Finn overtakes Schumacher's 23 in winning the qualifying battle for tomorrow's race.
The Jordan cars driven by Heinz Harald Fretzen and Jarno Trulli will start in 6th and 8th place respectively, with Eddie Irvine in his Jaguar in between in 7th.
Meanwhile, a new safety system designed to protect Formula 1 drivers in high speed crashes was unveiled ahead today's race. The 'head and neck support' system is based on a rigid, collar-shaped shell that is held on the upper body by seat belts and fastened to the helmet by tethers. It is designed to prevent serious head movement and neck strain in case of a crash.
"This is a major step forward in the search to introduce ever-improved safety standards in Formula 1," said Max Mosley, president of the International Automobile Federation, the FIA. Mosley added that the system is to become mandatory in all Formula 1 cars from January 2001.
