Adrian
Sutil (car 20, VJM02/03):
FP3: 19th 1:22.232 (19 laps)
Q1: 19th 1:21.742 (11 laps)
Giancarlo
Fisichella (car 21, VJM02/04):
FP1: 17th 1:21.909 (19 laps)
Q1: 20th 1:22.204 (11 laps)
9 May 2009 -
The Force India Formula One Team will start tomorrow's Spanish Grand
from 19th and 20th positions following a competitive qualifying session
at the Circuit de Catalunya on the outskirts of Barcelona. Adrian
Sutil will line up for the 66 lap race in 19th position while team-mate
Giancarlo Fisichella will start from 20th.
Adrian recorded a 1min
21.742 lap at the end of Q1, an improvement of 0.5secs over the morning
time, while Giancarlo completed a best time of 1min 22.204 after getting
caught in traffic on potentially his fastest lap.
Both drivers will start
the race with slightly unexpected company, directly behind McLaren's
Heikki Kovalainen, Bourdais' Toro Rosso and the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen.
Adrian
Sutil (car 20)
'We knew that this would be a tight session and it was. The balance
of my car was OK and I don't think missing the free practice session
yesterday put us at a disadvantage, it was just really close out there
again. Track conditions were quite good for us, and the grip of the
car improved from this morning but we just didn't have enough speed
at the end of the day to do any more. But it could be a good race
with the people we have around us.'
Giancarlo
Fisichella (car 21)
'I had some problems with traffic on my last lap and felt I could
have improved the time. The car felt quite good though, more consistent
than in the free practice this morning, and our race pace is always
better than in qualifying. With Kovalainen and Raikkonen not far away
from us I think the race will be a tough one, but let's see what we
can do with the strategy and try and gain some positions.'
Dominic
Harlow, chief race engineer
'Both drivers found it difficult to get the best from the car in today's
qualifying. Adrian drove two good laps at the end of the session and
unfortunately Giancarlo found some traffic. Clearly we've some work
to do still to improve our qualifying pace on circuits like this.
We'll look to be creative with our race tomorrow and make the best
of any opportunities that come our way.'
**
END **