UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > GP2: Pantano on Pole

Italian scores first points

Giorgio Pantano will start tomorrow’s GP2 series race from pole position. The Italian Super Nova International driver set his pole lap of 1:43.862 in the opening minutes of the session. It was a time nobody could beat. Nico Rosberg came the closest, taking his ART Grand Prix car to within 0.077 seconds, with Heikki Kovalainen just 0.103 seconds off pole in third place for Arden International.

The top seven drivers all represented different teams, as Gimmi Bruni – this morning’s pace setter in practice - took his Coloni Motorsports car to fourth with Neel Jani (Racing Engineering) in fifth, Jose Maria Lopez (DAMS) sixth and Ernesto Viso (BCN Competicion) seventh. The top ten was rounded out by Alexandre Prémat, Nicolas Lapierre and Hiroki Yoshimoto.

Following a steward’s inquiry, however, it was judged that Nico Rosberg, Heikki Kovalainen and Alexandre Prémat had all set their quickest laps while part of the third sector of the track was under yellow flags. The stewards decided that the three drivers should have their best two timed laps deleted, and that their third quickest lap should determine their positions. A new official classification for qualifying, and tomorrow’s race grid, will therefore be published tomorrow morning.

Giorgio Pantano remains on pole position, and picks up two points for his work today – his first of the season. With the top 10 drivers separated by a second, and the top 20 by two seconds, tomorrow’s race promises to pick up where we left off in Monaco in terms of edge-of-the-seat excitement.

Source: GP2 Press Release

Written: Sat, 28 May 2005 00:22:12