Trulli Takes Indy F-1 Pole, Ralf Schumacher Medically Ineligible to Race

Topics:  Spanish Grand Prix, Jarno Trulli, Ralf Schumacher

VOA Sports
June 18, 2005

Italian Formula One driver Jarno Trulli of Toyota has won the pole for Sunday's running of the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Trulli covered the 4.192 kilometer Brickyard course in 1:10.625 seconds to take the pole. Kimi Raikkonen of McLaren-Mercedes was second about 0.07 of one second back with Jenson Button of BAR Honda third.

Italy's Giancarlo Fisichella of Renault was fourth fastest with two-time defending race champion Michael Schumacher of Germany fifth. Overall points leader Fernando Alonso of Spain in a Renault qualified sixth.

Ralf Schumacher of Toyota was ruled medically ineligible for Sunday's race after crashing heavily in practice Friday. The German driver suffered a serious concussion and two broken vertebrae in last year's race.

Alonso leads Raikkonen in the overall standings. The Spanish driver has 59 points after winning four races this season. Raikkonen has 37 points while Jarno Trulli is third overall with 27 points.

Some information for this report provided by AP.