24/11/2007
NEWS STORY
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The brightest stars of the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champs 2007, Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa will share the second row in the opening of the double-header race on Sunday. The Ferrari team-mates saw Nelson Piquet Jr. set the fastest lap, only one hundredth quicker than second-placed Lucas di Grassi.
The Top 3 qualifiers are the same ones who climbed to the podium in 2006 – Massa at the top, followed by Piquet Jr. and di Grassi. Schumacher, who lead both free practice sessions, couldn't match the performance later. He left the Ingleses Kart Track right after the superqualifying along with Ferrari test-driver Luca Badoer, who will start 17th tomorrow. During the day, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion was closely chased by journalists and photographers.
Piquet Jr. said the good performance was a result of many factors. "Everything worked fine. My equipment was good, I did a great lap and the mood here is awesome. But it is not over yet. There will be two races and anything can happen," he said.
Hoping to get Nelson Piquet Jr. role as Renault test-driver next year, Lucas di Grassi said that the qualifying result shows the next generation of Brazilian drivers is really strong. "We are doing a great job against the more experienced drivers, and the same will happen to us when we get older", he said, while Piquet Jr. joked. "Yeah, when we get married and have kids."
Because of the high level of the drivers at the event, Massa reckoned that he couldn't be sure about grabbing the pole. "I knew it would be hard, because there are too many good drivers here." About the possibility of rain for tomorrow's race, the Ferrari ace has mixed feelings. "Thinking about the spectacle as a promoter of the event, I want a sunny day. But as a driver, the rain doesn't look so bad", he said.
The champion of the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champs will be based on aggregate results. However, for the second one, there is a different point allocation because of the GP2 Series reversed grid style for the Top 8 in the previous race. The first race starts at 13 h (ECT) and the second will be green-flagged at 16:15. Live timing service is available at cronomap.com.br
Qualifying Results
1 - Nelson Piquet Jr: 41.856 (average 89.27 Km/h
2 - Lucas Di Grassi: 41.972
3 - Felipe Massa: 41.999
4 - Michael Schumacher: 42.058
5 - Luciano Burti: 42.245
6 - Felipe Giaffone: 42.330
7 - Rubens Barrichello: 42.361
8 - Xandinho Negrão: 42.417
9 - Marcos Gomes: 42.773
10 - Thiago Camilo: 43.122
11 - Antonio Pizzonia: 41.630
12 - Vitor Meira: 41.683
13 - Ricardo Zonta: 41.742
14 - Enrique Bernoldi, 41s801
15 - Tony Kanaan: 41.847
16 - Alexandre Barros: 41.874
17 - Luca Badoer: 41.991
18 - Ricardo Mauricio: 42.s006
19 - Rodrigo Sperafico: 42.028
20 - Tarso Marques: 42.190
21 - Popó Bueno: 42.357
22 - Cacá Bueno: 42.360
23 - Pupo Moreno: 42.415
24 - Gil de Ferran: 42.612