Alonso Takes Pole for British GP

Topics:  British Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso

VOA Sports
Voice of America
July 9, 2005

Spanish Formula One driver and season leader Fernando Alonso has won the pole for Sunday's running of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, his fourth pole this season.

Alonso piloted his Renault around the 5.141-kilometer circuit in 1:19.905 minutes for an average speed of more than 231 kilometers per hour.

Kimi Raikkonen of Finland was second fastest in a McLaren-Mercedes (0.027 seconds back) with Britain's Jenson Button third in a BAR Honda just over 0.30 seconds off the leader.

Despite his qualifying time, Raikkonen will have to start 10 places down on the grid because he had to change the engine on his car before qualifying.  The penalty moves Button to the front row.

Raikkonen's penalty also means that McLaren's fourth-placed qualifier Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia will start in third position with Italian Jarno Trulli of Toyota next to him on the second row.

Alonso leads the overall drivers' standings with 69 points after winning five races this season.  Raikkonen is second with 45 points while seven-time driving champion Michael Schumacher of Germany is third with 40 points.

Some information for this report provided by AP.