Fisichella captures Austrian Grand Prix pole

   Copyright c 1998 Nando Media
   Copyright c 1998 Agence France-Presse

ZELTWEG, Austria (Jul 25, 1998 - 10:52 EDT) - Italian Giancarlo Fisichella,
driving a Benetton, won pole position on Saturday for Sunday's Austrian
Grand Prix.

Fisichela snatched his first-ever pole with a dramatic last-gasp lap in the
final qualifying session for the race, edging out Frenchman Jean Alesi in a
Sauber.

Fisichella produced a superb final lap on the treacherous rain-soaked A-1
Ring circuit to clock a time of 1 minute, 29.598 seconds and deny Alesi
pole in the dying seconds.

World championship leader Mika Hakkinen of Finland was third-fastest in his
McLaren-Mercedes ahead of his closest challenger, two-time world champion
Michael Schumacher of Germany in a Ferrari.

Rubens Barrichello of Brazil was fifth-quickest in a Stewart and then came
Finn Mika Salo in an Arrows. Both are wet weather specialists.

World champion Jacques Villeneuve (Williams-Mecachrome), 11th, and David
Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes), 14th, suffered badly on the slippery track,
which made the session something of a lottery.

The torrential rain that fell during the hour before qualifying was due to
begin meant none of the drivers ventured on to the treacherous circuit
until 27 minutes of the one-hour session had elapsed.

The times gradually began to improve as a dry line started to develop and
more and more cars came out on to the circuit.

Alesi seemed set to achieve Sauber's first pole position with a time of
1:30.311, only to see Fisichella cross the line moments behind him with the
only time under 1:30.

Alesi still gave the Swiss Sauber Petronas team their best-ever qualifying result.

Fisichella called his achievement "unbelievable" and said he was
"very, very happy". "I hope this is just the
beginning," he added.

Fisichella said a top-three finish is his ambition for Sunday, saying:
"Ferrari and McLaren are much stronger than us."

He then said with a grin: "It's not going to be easy to overtake and
it should be an interesting race tomorrow!"

Hakkinen was not concerned at having to pass Fisichella because "he is
a fair driver." He was more concerned how to get past about Alesi,
"an extremely experienced driver and a tough racer" who is
notoriously hard to pass.

Alesi said: "I obviously have more chance tomorrow if it is wet."

First out on the track after the delay were Tora Takagi's Tyrrell and Damon
Hill in the Jordan Mugen-Honda, Takagi spinning and Hill setting the first
pole time of 1:37.688 compared to Coulthard's morning time of 1:11.655.

Michael Schumacher then took the pole at 13.39 with a lap of 1:34.457, with
his brother Ralf in a Jordan Mugen-Honda second.

The times tumbled and names changed rapidly on top of the timing screens as
sunshine broke through the overcast skies.

Villeneuve's Williams slid off into a gravel trap with 16 minutes to go,
when he was sixth, and though he went out again in a spare car, he finished
back in 11th.

The closing minutes then saw frantic action with Fisichella prevailing.

The race is due to start at 14:00 (noon GMT) and is scheduled for 71 laps
in dry weather.

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