Cristiano da Matta is next out, the Brazilian looking good thus far this weekend. 30.410 at the first split, he's already well up on Villeneuve. 1:09.196 at the second split, it's a good lap so far. Over the line at 1:32.949, that's 1.6s quicker than Villeneuve.

Now it's Pizzonia's turn, the Brazilian was impressive this morning. At the first split the Jaguar star posts 30.727, he's 0.3s down on his countryman da Matta. At the second split it's 1:10.000 he's now 0.8s down on the Toyota. He crosses the line at 1:34.159, 1.2s down on da Matta.

Next it's Olivier Panis who has been one of the real stars this weekend. At the first split the Frenchman posts 30.026, he's 0.3s up on his team-mate. 1:08.484, he's now 0.4s up on da Matta, surely this is provisional pole. 1:32.350 over the line, he goes quickest, but he was a little too quick going into the last turn.

Jos the Boss is next out, can he out-pace Villeneuve? At the first split the Dutchman posts 31.280 he's down on da Matta but giving it 100% as ever. 1:11.821 at the second split, he's over 3s off the pace now. 1:36.318 over the line, well off the pace but looking suspiciously as though the PS03 is running a very heavy fuel load. Don't forget Paul Stoddart is still convinced that his team had the right strategy in Brazil where conditions for the race were atrocious.

At the first break it's Panis ahead of da Matta, Pizzonia, Villeneuve and Verstappen.

Team-mate Justin Wilson is next out, will he be running the same strategy? At the first split it's 31.462, he's down on his team-mate. At the second split the Englishman posts 1:11.961 followed by a 1:36.485 over the line. Way off the pace, but then this could be about strategy.

Ralph Firman is next out as the Sauber mechanics continue to work on Heidfeld's car, the German is due out next. 30.679 at the first split for Firman, a good first sector for the Anglo-Irish driver. At the second split the Jordan star posts 1:09.730, not bad so far. 1:33.827 sees Ralph go third, a brilliant lap from the rookie.

Unbelievably the Sauber crew has changed Heidfeld's engine in eighteen minutes, as a result the German takes to the track. Sadly it's all for nothing he goes very wide into turn one, spins and stalls, a mistake or a problem with the car?

Mark Webber is next out in the Jaguar. At the first split the Australian posts 30.456, he's 0.4s off the pace. It's a little ragged as the Jaguar posts 1:09.156 at the second split. Over the line at 1:32.066 Mark goes third leap-frogging Firman.

Jenson Button takes to the track, this should be another opportunity to out-qualify his team-mate. 30.734 at the first split for the English youngster followed by a 1:09.494, he's 1s off the pace. Over the line the BAR driver posts 1:33.395, good enough for fourth, a nice tidy lap from Jenson.

At the second break it's still Panis quickest ahead of da Matta, Webber, Button, Firman, Pizzonia, Villeneuve, Verstappen, Wilson and Heidfeld.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen is next out the German will be keen not to emulate his team-mate who now has to start from the back of the grid tomorrow. 30.556 at the first split for the German, he's giving it 100% but the car doesn't seem responsive. 1:09.997 at the second split, he's 1.5s down on Panis, crossing the line at 1:34.000 to go sixth, not bad considering.

Giancarlo Fisichella is next out, the Roman driver posting 30.510 at the first split. At the second split the Jordan driver posts 1:09.658, the Italian is giving total commitment. 1:33.553 over the line to go fifth a great lap from Fisi as he ousts his team-mate.

Fernando Alonso goes out in the Renault, the Spaniard posting 30.087 at the first split only marginally down on Panis. At the second split it's 1:08.641, still only slightly down on the Toyota. Over the line at 1:32.424 the Renault star can only manage second, Flavio Briatore shakes his head in frustration.

Team-mate Jarno Trulli takes to the track, what can the Italian do? 29.869 at the first split, he's up on Panis and heading for provisional pole. At the second split it's 1:08.135 it's looking good. Over the line at 1:31.976 he goes quickest by 0.3s, a superb professional lap.

Last out before the final break is David Coulthard, all eyes on the Scot ahead of his 150th GP. At the first split it's 30.185, he's down on Trulli by about 0.3s. At the second split he posts 1:09.067, he's now almost a second down on the Italian. Over the line at 1:32.742 it only good enough for fourth, DC will be bitterly disappointed with that.

With five cars left to run, the order is Trulli, Panis, Alonso, Coulthard, da Matta, Webber, Button, Fisichella, Firman and Frentzen.

Rubens Barrichello is next out on track, the Brazilian won here last year. At the first split the Ferrari star posts 29.890 he's 0.021s down on Trulli. At the second split Rubens posts 1:08.274, he's lost time. Over the line at 1:31.780 the 2002 winner takes provisional pole despite making a slight mess of the last corner.

Ralf Schumacher is next out, the German has been on pole for the last two races. 29.741 at the first split, he's up on Barrichello. At the second split it's 1:08.044, he's 0.230s up on the Ferrari, this could well be the pole-winning lap. 1:31.619 over the line, Ralf goes quickest by 0.161.

Juan Pablo Montoya is next out, the Colombian will be keen to 'bump' his team-mate. At the first split Juan Pablo posts 29.741, exactly the same time as Ralf! At the second split it's 1:08.067, only slightly down on his team-mate. At the line it's 1:31.765, it's not good enough, the Colombian can only manage second.

Now it's Michael Schumacher's turn, all eyes on the reigning World Champion. At the first split the German posts a 29.893 he's 0.152 down on his brother. A big lock-up into the hairpin, consequently it's 1:07.963 at the second split, he's up on Ralf! Over the line at 1:31.555 he take provisional pole by 0.064, though Kimi Raikkonen will no doubt be doing his best to wreck Michael's party.

Last man out is Kimi Raikkonen, what can he do? 29.762 at the first split, he's down on Schumacher and pushing very, very hard. At the second split it's 1:08.002 he's 0.039 down on the Ferrari driver. At the line it's 1:31.523 he takes pole even though he didn't set the fastest time in any of the sectors.

On a weekend when many drivers are celebrating career milestones, Kimi takes his first ever pole position, and what a way to do it. Incidentally it's worth noting that this is McLaren's first pole of 2003.

The last five out took the top five positions though Renault and Toyota were also impressive.

After yesterday and today it's interesting to see that the Bridgestone shod Ferraris were really in with a chance, though it should be noted that other than the two Ferraris, Michelin runners fill nine of the first eleven positions.

It's unlikely that any of the front runners were running special strategies today, though tomorrow afternoon all eyes will be on the sky.