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Barrichello sets pace, but Schumacher lurks
TEAM red did the business again at Albert Park yesterday.
Rubens Barrichello flung his Ferrari through a frantic lap to claim provisional pole position for the Australian Grand Prix, but Michael Schumacher is lurking in fourth like a giant shark that's keen for a feed.
Most people expected Schumacher to begin his hunt for a sixth world championship from the front of the pack, but running first on a dirty track -- and probably with his eye on the checkered flag tomorrow afternoon -- meant his lap was slower than needed to claim the top spot.
So Barrichello undercut the boss with a lap of flair, commitment and straight-out speed. He was awesome, and fully committed through the crucial high-speed flick at the back of the track, as he lapped in 1min 26.372sec to edge out McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen by 0.179sec.
Jacques Villeneuve rocked his rivals with the third-quickest time in his BAR.
"Rubens did a very good lap and I...