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Indianapolis Motor Speedway 04

SAP United States Grand Prix

20/06/2004

19/06/2004

BAR Qualifying Report

Qualifying

Lucky Strike B·A·R Honda's Takuma Sato and Jenson Button locked out the second row at The Brickyard today in final qualifying for the United States Grand Prix. Taku placed his B·A·R Honda 006 in third position on the grid, lining up directly behind polesitter Rubens Barrichello. His team-mate Jenson qualified alongside him in fourth and will line up behind Michael Schumacher for the start of tomorrow's 73-lap race.

Takuma Sato Position: 3rd Lap time: 1:10.601
"I'm pleased with third on the grid for tomorrow. It was a shame that we couldn't reach the Ferraris as we were looking good in practice this morning. I'll settle for third and an all-B·A·R second row is great for the team. It was a little bit gusty out there so maybe our lap time was affected by that. Obviously I have a great opportunity for tomorrow which I intend to make the most of. My first priority is to finish the race but I would really like to finish it at least where I started. I'm really looking good for tomorrow's race and fighting for my first podium."

Jenson Button Position: 4th Lap time: 1:10.820
"I wasn't very happy when I got out of the car but fourth is better than I thought we were going to end up. When Taku did his first run, obviously he was running after me when the circuit was cleaner and he had more wing than me, so we tried that setting and it was pretty awful actually. Loads of oversteer. In hindsight I wish we had kept the car as it was. It's difficult when you are going out third in for the first run to know what to do with the balance, so I thought we would have learnt more about the conditions from Taku's run, but obviously we didn't and I had a lot of oversteer. It should be a good race however and it's great that both Taku and I will line up together tomorrow."

David Richards, Team Principal
"To have both cars on the second row is a great achievement for the team; and I am pleased that Taku has re-focused his efforts to such good effect. To be qualifying so well at the home of American motorsport is particularly satisfying, coming as it does just a month after Honda swept the board at the "Indy 500". We are in good shape for the race tomorrow, and of course it would be a dream come true if we could replicate Honda's recent victory."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director
"We are happy to have both cars on the second row of the grid for tomorrow's race. Conditions for qualifying were quite difficult as the wind got up and there was a certain amount of luck whether a driver got calm or gusty conditions. Jenson was unlucky to get a particularly strong gusts during his lap and lost time through the middle part of the lap but was still able to put in a good time to get on the second row. Takuma in slightly better conditions had a much more consistent lap, taking the fastest sector two to get his third top-three qualifying position of the year.

"Both of the morning practice sessions went well for us and were able to complete our work on race set-up without problems. The car has been good on new or old tyres so we are happy that we have a good strategy and position for tomorrow's race"

Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development
"I am happy with that. Both drivers have done exactly what was asked of them and I think we should be in for a strong race tomorrow."