rpm.espn.com: Schumacher wins ninth pole in 13 races

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Saturday, August 18
Schumacher wins ninth pole in 13 races
Reuters

BUDAPEST -- Ferrari's Michael Schumacher seized the pole position Hungary on Saturday, leaving him perfectly placed to secure his fourth Formula One title.

The German, chasing a record-equalling 51st win in Sunday's race, obliterated all previous best lap times at the Hungaroring with ease.


	Michael Schumacher went off track in practice, but came back to win the pole Saturday for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.

His pole time of one minute 14.059 seconds on a hot and humid afternoon was secured with some 20 minutes remaining and Schumacher needed only two fast laps to assert his dominance.

It was his ninth pole in 13 races this year, the 41st of his career, and the fastest recorded in Hungary since the first grand prix here in 1986.

Schumacher's time was nearly three and a half seconds faster than his pole of 1:17.514 last year and a massive 0.801 quicker than David Coulthard, whose title hopes stand to be snuffed out.

Coulthard, 37 points behind Schumacher in the standings with 50 points remaining to be won including Sunday's race, did his best and split the Ferraris to join Schumacher on the front row.

Schumacher's Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello was third fastest, ahead of the Williams driven by the German's younger sibling Ralf.

Finland's Mika Hakkinen, who has won for the past two years in Hungary, was sixth fastest.

Coulthard hopeful
"We predicted certain lap times and we went much further than we thought, honestly," said Schumacher afterwards.

"It was down to really having a perfect lap done, the car was sorted out in the morning just fantastically -- 100 percent -- and it could not have been better."

If Schumacher wins the race Sunday, he will secure the title with four races to spare but he warned it would be tougher than qualifying.

"Be sure it will not be as calm as we have seen in qualifying," he said. "We have seen very often this year that we have got it together in qualifying but the race was much tighter.

"I do expect a very tight, competitive race ... I guess the spectators will see a good show tomorrow. We want to secure the championship here if possible."

Schumacher can also claim the title by finishing as low as fourth if circumstances favor him. But his pole, on a slow and twisty circuit, has left him the big favorite to win.

Coulthard must try to beat his rival off the start and then stay ahead for the 77 laps. He remained hopeful about his chances.

"At least I've got a clear run down to the first corner and you rely as a driver now on your start systems," he said.

"As we've seen, on occasion they can go wrong so there's still a hope that I can be leading out of the first corner."

Start problems
He will be boosted by memories of last year when teammate Hakkinen overtook Schumacher at the first corner from the second row.

Schumacher also had problems at the start of the last race in Germany, where he was shunted in the rear by the Prost of Luciano Burti.

Coulthard said his position was the best he could have hoped for but he blasted German Heinz-Harald Frentzen for blocking him on a fast lap.

"I was just a little frustrated because he went literally at cruising speed through the first corner."

Ferrari must have hoped Barrichello would act as a buffer between Schumacher and Coulthard and the Brazilian was disappointed to be third.

"Starting third in Hungary is not too bad but I think the car was capable of doing better," he said.

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