Massa grabs pole as Toyota surprises

Felipe Massa will start from pole position tomorrow with team mate Michael Schumacher next to him. Fernando Alonso will only start from 5th position as Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli put their Toyota at the 2nd row.

Under a sunny sky, the qualifying session of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka kicked off. Jarno Trulli was the first to come out and was greeted by Toyota's home crowd. Sakn Yamamoto, the Japanese Super Aguri F1 Team driver, suffered problems as he was only seconds on track and had to abandon. With seven minutes to go on the clock, Michael Schumacher was already the fastest man on track as the Renaults were still in the garage.

Team mate Felipe Massa was over a second faster than Schumacher as both Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella came on track. The Spaniard put down a good lap and placed his car between both Ferrari's. Jarno Trulli took the 2nd and Ralf 3rd, which shows that Toyota is very competitive for their home race. Jenson Button, who also defends the colors of a Japanese team clocked the 4th time in the first heat of the qualifying session.

After the first 15 minutes, Sakon Yamamoto, Tiago Monteiro, Takuma Sato, Scott Speed, Robert Doornbos and David Coulthard are eliminated.

In the second heat Jarno Trulli topped the timesheets with 10 minutes left on the clock. The Italian had put down 1:30:204 fast lap. Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica were 2nd and 3rd, but that wouldn't last long as Trulli's team mate, Ralf Schumacher clocked the 2nd fastest time.

Michael Schumacher put down the fastest lap, with a 1:26:954, as team mate Felipe Massa takes the track. The Brazilian placed his Ferrari behind Schumacher and again, the Scuderia Ferrari drivers show their pace during the weekend that can be the weekend of truth!

After the second 15 minutes, Christijan Albers, Tonio Liuzzi, Mark Webber, Pedro de la Rosa, Robert Kubica and Kimi Raikkonen.

As the drivers made themselfs ready for the 'Super Pole' it was a fight to be the first one to leave the pit lane. Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa were the first to come out, followed by both Renault's and both Honda's. Fernando Alonso tried to pass Massa as both cars were just leaving the pits, but Alonso had to respect the white line and couldn't pass the Brazilian. The final 15 minutes of this qualifying session appear to be a real race.

Over the team radio we hear Alonso say that he is losing his time behind Massa and that he's blocked.

Michael Schumacher is the first of the top drivers to make a pit stop and is quickly followed by Fernando Alonso. With 7 and a half minute to go, Jarno Trulli again clocks the fastest lap. Toyota really surprises here at Japan as for the rest of the season, the team has been struggling. Toyota isn't the only Japanese team that is fast as Honda's Barrichello clocked the 2nd time.

With five minutes to go, Michael Schumacher again takes the lead, followed by Massa, Trulli, Fisichella and Alonso. The Spaniard enters the pits agaian for a set of new tyres. Can the reigning World Champion still beat Schumacher's time?

Michael Schumacher clocked an even faster lap, but team mate Felipe Massa puts his car on pole position. Fernando Alonso is only 5th as Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli put their cars 3rd and 4th on tomorrow's grid. Fisichella is 6th.