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Rediff.com  » Sports » Fisichella breaks Q2 jinx

Fisichella breaks Q2 jinx

September 13, 2008 22:45 IST
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The second qualifying session dream finally materialised for Force India as Giancarlo Fisichella will start Sunday's Italian Grand Prix 12th on the grid while his team mate Adrian Sutil will begin from 20th position.

In one of their best performances ever, Force India fought difficult conditions on a wet track because of heavy rain and cruised into Q2 for the first time this season.

It was also their best feat since the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix and the highest qualifying position since the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix.

Giancarlo excelled in the wet and windy qualifying session and clocked 1:36.280 in his final lap to record the 13th quickest of Q1. The Italian pushed hard in the opening minutes of the second segment and recorded the 12th fastest of the remaining 15 cars, just five hundredths from the crucial 10th position and Q3.

"Conditions in the first session were bad at the start and it was difficult to find some grip but they improved at the end and that was when I was able to find some space and push," Giancarlo said.

"We went out as soon as we could in the second session as the rain was getting heavier and we really did the optimum. we weren't too far from Q3 with the quickest lap. Unfortunately then the rain just got worse and it was going to be impossible to improve," he added.

His partner Sutil also put in some strong laps in the first 20 minute segment and was classified as high as third before his second run but a switch to a new set of tyres affected his balance and he failed to recover after that.

"A bit disappointing as I had a good balance in the rain. The first set of tyres worked really well and we were very competitive but then I changed tyres and suddenly we lost all the grip and I was about six tenths a lap slower in better conditions," Sutil said.

"We have to figure out what went wrong, but all the same I think that we've got every chance of making up for this tomorrow," he added.

Fisichella's made it a memorable day for Force India as he finished ahead of the two favourites -- world champion Kimi Raikkonen (14th) and current world championship leader Lewis Hamilton (15th).

The veteran Italian is hoping that the wet weather could help him finish in the top eight and score a vital point for his team.

"I'm really looking forward to the race, and with the predicted rain I think it will be very exciting. I'm going to try hard here. I scored my first win in similar conditions in Brazil with this team, and although that's going to be difficult here, we can at least try for points," he said.

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