MAGNY-COURS, France, 16 July 2006 — German Michael Schumacher secured pole position for today’s French Grand Prix with a dominant demonstration of his enduring skills in yesterday’s qualifying session as Ferrari delivered a one-two to fill the front row of the grid.
The seven-time world champion was the only man to clock times under the 1:16 barrier in all three sections of the qualifying hour on the way to his 68th pole position.
Schumacher’s Ferrari teammate Brazilian Felipe Massa was second-fastest after clocking an improved lap in the final seconds to outpace defending world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso in his Renault.
Alonso had clocked a second-best time just as the flag fell, but Massa was already on track with a lap to complete.
Schumacher’s best lap in the final session was one minute and 15.493 seconds.
Alonso wound up third with Italian Jarno Trulli fourth for Toyota, German Ralf Schumacher fifth in the second Toyota and Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen sixth in his McLaren Mercedes-Benz.
Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was seventh for Renault, Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa eighth in the second McLaren, German Nico Rosberg ninth for Williams and Briton David Coulthard tenth for Red Bull.
Several wilted in the heat and humidity early on, with the air temperature reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) and the track a scorching 54 degrees.
The most spectacular and surprising departure was that of Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, who was fastest in the morning free session in his BMW Sauber. But he was in good company as Briton Jenson Button was also condemned to an early shower after clocking the 19th-fastest time in his Honda.
The pair were accompanied by Japan’s Takuma Sato in his Super Aguri, Franck Montagny of France, his teammate, Portugal’s Tiago Monteiro, in a Midland, and Vitantonio Liuzzi of Italy in his Scuderia Toro Rosso Cosworth. The second mini-session saw the departures of Dutchman Christijan Albers of Midland, American Scott Speed in a Toro Rosso Cosworth, Brazilian Rubens Barrichello in his Honda, Austrian Christian Klien in a Red Bull, and the two Williams drivers German Nick Heidfeld and Australian Mark Webber.
This left the Williams men sharing the sixth row of the provisional starting grid with the rest lined up behind them as the final section of qualifying began.
The start of the third mini-session saw Alonso and Schumacher lining up as if on a final racing grid, both determined to gain the psychological advantage as if it were the main contest, not simply a qualifying session.
Despite Alonso pulling away in his Renault at the start, Schumacher gave chase until he was able to cut in and pass his title rival at the Adelaide hairpin under heavy braking.
Circuit commentators exclaimed “Extraordinary!” and spectators roasting in the hot sunshine enjoyed a thrilling spectacle as the pair fought for track space on the 100th anniversary of the French Grand Prix.
