Full Throttle

From the look of the weather for Saturday’s F1 Grand Prix qualifiying and the grid as a result of the ever increasing rain one might believe Mother Nature was born wearing a Kimono. One may also assume that Byron Young writing for the U.K.’s Daily Mirror has a bit of The Amazing Kreskin in his linage somewhere. His pre-qualy piece is entitled, “Land Of The Rising Jen-Son.”

Ralf Schumacher grabbed pole position and a bit of history. Ralf’s run completed before the wet got wetter, was the first ever for a Japanese team at their home track. To add to the “Rising Sun” flavor Jenson Button in his BAR Honda starts outside of the first row.

Giancarlo Fisichella rolls off third. Christian Klien (Red Bull), Takuma Sato (BAR), David Coulthard (Red Bull), Mark Webber (Wlliams), and Jacques Villeneuve (Sauber) rounded out the top eight.

That should set up a Chinese Japanese Fire Drill Sunday at the green flag. Both McLarens, newly annointed World Champion Fernando Alonzo and Michael Schumacher all start at the rear of the field on, what is predicted to be, a dry Sunday.

SIDE NOTES: Jarno Trulli will have an unusual honor for a Formula One driver. He will be involved with the Olympics. He will carry the Olympic torch when it passes through his hometown of Pescara on its way to the Winter Olympics in Turin next February.

“I thought as a Formula One driver I would not be involved with any Olympics but it is nice,” Trulli said. “It would be very nice to be present and also probably watch some of the competition.”

Ferrari is also getting inspired by the Olympics. Its cars have the logo of the Turin games. Ferrari is based in Maranello, Italy but Fiat, the parent company of Ferrari, is based in Turin.

Formula One, Auto Racing, Sports, Suzuka