Juan Pablo Montoya continued the form he showed in this morning's final practice session when he grabbed pole position in the Williams car during qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The Colombian, who enjoyed a run of five successive poles midway through the season, claimed his seventh pole of the campaign by over 0.2 seconds from world champion Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari.
Schumacher's younger brother Ralf was third fastest in his Williams. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello posted the fourth quickest time from the McLaren of Kimi Raikkonen who outqualified team-mate David Coulthard for the 10th time in 15 attempts as the Scort finished seventh. But there was joy for Eddie Irvine whose sixth spot was his highest of the season for Jaguar Racing.
The qualifying session had to be stopped just under three minutes before the scheduled finish when Jordan's Takuma Sato rammed into a rear tyre of Raikkonen. Sato, whose place at Jordan could be taken by Irvine, was sent skidding into the gravel and smashing into a tyre barrier. Giancarlo Fisichella in the other Jordan finished in 12th spot while Sato finished in 18th position.
Montoya had another reason to celebrate today as he set a new record for the fastest ever lap ever seen in Formula One. The South American broke the record set by Finland's Keke Rosberg - also in a Williams - at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone 17 years ago.
"I feel it is pretty good, but I am sure next year it will be beaten again," said Montoya. "It is pretty amazing how fast we went - something like two seconds a lap quicker than last year. Hopefully I can get my first win of the season tomorrow, I am really looking forward to the race."
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
