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Schumacher sets pace Ferrari duo fastest in opening qualifying at ImolaPosted: Friday April 18, 2003 10:16 AMUpdated: Friday April 18, 2003 12:08 PM IMOLA, Italy (AP) -- World champion Michael Schumacher posted the fastest time in Friday's first qualifying session for the San Marino Grand Prix, setting the track record for the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit. Schumacher's teammate Rubens Barrichello was second fastest as the two Ferraris roared back onto the track in an effort to begin turning around their dismal start to the season. Schumacher covered the 4.933-kilometer (3.065-mile) track in one minute, 20.628 seconds, beating his previous record of 1:21.091 set while taking the pole position in qualifying for last year's race here. Ferrari officials had planned to debut the team's new car -- the F2003-GA -- in Imola, but decided to stick with the F2002 for one more race after some minor problems occurred in testing the new model. "Given our experience with the F2002, racing it here seems to have been a good decision so far," Schumacher said after Friday's performance. Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn said it was "nice to be first and second again," Under new rules put in place for this season, Friday's times only determine the starting order for Saturday's second one-hour qualifying session, with the fastest drivers starting last. "We shouldn't get carried away with this theoretical front row," said Ferrari team director Jean Todt. Still, the site of Schumacher and Barrichello atop the classification was a reminder that Ferrari plans to contend for another title. With Barrichello's second-place finish in the Malaysia GP the best result for the Maranello outfit in three races thus far this season, five-time and defending champion Schumacher is without a podium finish for his worse start in years. Last season, Schumacher dominated the circuit, clinching the driver's title with six races still remaining on the schedule. One-two finishes by the two red-clad drivers were the norm, including here on Ferrari's home track. "People think we're into a crisis," Barrichello said. "That's not the case. I have more points at this point this year than last year. Michael has been a little bit more unfortunate." Both drivers failed to finish the last race, the rain-marred Brazilian GP held two weeks ago. Earlier Friday, Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella finally received the trophy for his disputed victory in Brazil. In a ceremony by the Imola finish line, the Jordan-Ford driver was handed the hardware from McLaren Mercedes' Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen. Officials from F1 governing body FIA determined last week that Fisichella had won instead of Raikkonen by recalculating the number of laps completed -- and who was leading -- when the race was halted early. In Friday's qualifying, Fisichella's time of 1:22.724 was only good for 11th fastest. Barrichello's time of 1:21.082 was followed by Williams BMW drivers Ralf Schumacher in 1:21.193 and Juan Pablo Montoya in 1:21.490. Raikkonen, who won the Malaysian GP and leads the driver's standings, finished eighth in 1:22.147 as the first driver to hit the track. His teammate, Australian GP winner David Coulthard, followed him onto the course and in time, finishing ninth in 1:22.326. "New or old, Ferrari is very competitive, especially here," Coulthard said, referring to Ferrari's different cars. Rising star Australian Mark Webber posted the fifth-fastest time in a Jaguar. Sunday's race will be the fourth GP of the season and the first in Europe. Fisichella finally gets Brazilian GP trophyIMOLA, Italy (AP) -- Giancarlo Fisichella finally got his hands on his first Formula One trophy Friday -- 12 days after the disputed race concluded and an ocean away from the site of his disputed victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix. In a ceremony by the finish line in Imola, the Jordan-Ford driver was handed the hardware from McLaren Mercedes' Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen. Officials from F1 governing body FIA determined last week that Fisichella had won instead of Raikkonen by recalculating the number of laps completed -- and who was leading -- when the race was halted early. Fisichella became the first Italian in 11 years to win an F1 race, yet the stands in Imola were mostly empty with two days still to go before Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix. The Italian driver and Raikkonen stood beside their cars on the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit as the Italian anthem was played and a small gathering of fans, mostly supporters of the idolized home team Ferrari, applauded. Fisichella waved a small Italian flag. There was no champagne used in the celebration. "Certainly it would have been better if this celebration were organized for Sunday morning," Fisichella said. "There would have been more people here. But I'll remain the only driver to have won on a Friday. "It's very important for me after eight years in Formula One." Raikkonen still leads the current championship with 24 points. "Of course we would like to be winners, but if the rules say Jordan is the winner, that's fine," the Finn said. The McLaren team accepted FIA's decision without hesitation. Jordan-Ford team director Eddie Jordan thanked Raikkonen "and the entire McLaren team for their sportsmanship." The revised championship standings have Raikkonen leading teammate David Coulthard by nine points and third-place Fernando Alonso by nine. World champion Michael Schumacher is 16 points back. In Friday's first qualifying session for the San Marino GP, Fisichella posted the 11th fastest time, while Raikkonen was a few spots
better in eighth.
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