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All fired up Coulthardt targets Monaco triumph
Monaco, May 30: David Coulthard believes he can produce another Monaco masterclass on Sunday and fire himself back into World Championship contention.
Monaco, May 30: David Coulthard believes he can produce another Monaco masterclass on Sunday and fire himself back into World Championship contention.
The 32-year-old Scot resumes his challenge on the Monte Carlo streets on Saturday after Friday's traditional rest day, having posted the fifth best time in Thursday's first qualifying session.
Coulthard was almost 0.8 seconds behind Michael Schumacher's Ferrari, but he is convinced he can achieve a third Monaco win in four years.
"I really believe that if I have a winning car then I can win this race," said Monaco-based Coulthard who won in 2000 and 2002. "We don't know yet if this is a winning car. We were pretty conservative in first qualifying. I could have gone a bit faster and I am not too concerned about the gap to Ferrari."
Coulthard needs to repeat last year's win after falling 17 points behind McLaren team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and 15 adrift of Schumacher who has won the last three races. But Coulthard will first have to get the better of fellow Brit Jenson Button before he can hope to challenge Schumacher, who is chasing a record-equalling sixth Monaco victory on Sunday.
Button - hoping to finally secure his maiden podium finish - finished third fastest on Thursday with only the Ferraris of Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello ahead of him.
"I am not dreaming about anything at the moment apart from going fast in the race," said the BAR-Honda driver. "I didn't expect to be this quick, but it could have been even faster. I am very, very happy with the performance."
Coulthard's McLaren team-mate Kimi Raikkonen is also looking for an improvement after finishing back in 11th spot. "Eleventh is obviously not brilliant but I would be more worried if I was in the same position after tomorrow's qualifying," said the Finn.
Bureau Report
The 32-year-old Scot resumes his challenge on the Monte Carlo streets on Saturday after Friday's traditional rest day, having posted the fifth best time in Thursday's first qualifying session.
Coulthard was almost 0.8 seconds behind Michael Schumacher's Ferrari, but he is convinced he can achieve a third Monaco win in four years.
"I really believe that if I have a winning car then I can win this race," said Monaco-based Coulthard who won in 2000 and 2002. "We don't know yet if this is a winning car. We were pretty conservative in first qualifying. I could have gone a bit faster and I am not too concerned about the gap to Ferrari."
Coulthard needs to repeat last year's win after falling 17 points behind McLaren team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and 15 adrift of Schumacher who has won the last three races. But Coulthard will first have to get the better of fellow Brit Jenson Button before he can hope to challenge Schumacher, who is chasing a record-equalling sixth Monaco victory on Sunday.
Button - hoping to finally secure his maiden podium finish - finished third fastest on Thursday with only the Ferraris of Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello ahead of him.
"I am not dreaming about anything at the moment apart from going fast in the race," said the BAR-Honda driver. "I didn't expect to be this quick, but it could have been even faster. I am very, very happy with the performance."
Coulthard's McLaren team-mate Kimi Raikkonen is also looking for an improvement after finishing back in 11th spot. "Eleventh is obviously not brilliant but I would be more worried if I was in the same position after tomorrow's qualifying," said the Finn.
Bureau Report