Magny Cours, July 06: Germany's Ralf Schumacher swept to his third pole position in four races in qualifying for the French Grand Prix. Ralf, winner at the Nuerburgring last weekend, was fastest on Saturday (July 5) in his BMW-powered Williams with a lap of one minute 15.019 seconds. His team mate Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia starts behind him after posting the second fastest time around the Magny-Cours circuit, 0.117 seconds slower. Ralf Schumacher secured the first pole of his Formula One career in France in 2001 and has now set the fourth pole of his career. Ferrari's championship leader Michael Schumacher, a six times winner in France, will share the second row with his closest rival, McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen. Schumacher leads Raikkonen by seven points, with Ralf third, 15 points behind his older brother.


Briton David Coulthard was much improved in qualifying, and he starts just behind his team-mate Raikkonen and alongside Italian Jarno Trulli in a Renault on the third row.


The other Renault of Fernando Alonso is behind Trulli in seventh. Then comes Rubens Barrichello of Brazil in the second Ferrari.


Performing poorly were the two Saubers of Nick Heidfeld and Heinz-Harald Frentzen in 15th and 16th, and the two Jordans of Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralph Firman in 17th and 18th places.


The grid restored normal service to Formula One after a topsy-turvy first qualifying session on Friday saw Minardi's Jos Verstappen clock the fastest time after the championship leaders had to lap on a wet circuit while those further down the list lapped on an almost dry track.


Minardi's dream of taking on the big boys evaporated on a warm and dry afternoon at Magny-Cours however and Verstappen and his British team mate Justin Wilson filled their more familiar slots on the back row.


Provisional grid placings for Sunday's French Formula One Grand Prix: 1. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams one minute 15.019 seconds 2. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:15.136 3. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:15.480 4. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:15.533 5. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:15.628 6. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:15.967 7. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:16.087 8. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1:16.166 9. Mark Webber (Australia) Jaguar 1:16.308 10. Olivier Panis (France) Toyota 1:16.345 11. Antonio Pizzonia (Brazil) Jaguar 1:16.965 12. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:16.990 13. Cristiano da Matta (Brazil) Toyota 1:17.068 14. Jenson Button (Britain) BAR 1:17.077 15. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:17.445 16. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber 1:17.562 17. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1:18.431 18. Ralph Firman (Britain) Jordan 1:18.514 19. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Minardi 1:18.709 20. Justin Wilson (Britain) Minardi 1:19.619


Bureau Report