Verstappen Posts Fastest Time at French Grand Prix Qualifier

Topics:  French Grand Prix, Jos Verstappen

VOA Sports
July 4, 2003

There were some surprises in Friday's pre-qualifying for the French Grand Prix auto race.

Dutch driver Jos Verstappen, driving for Minardi, upstaged the Ferrari drivers and clocked the fastest time around the Magny Cours circuit, 1:20.187 minutes.

Teammate Justin Wilson of Britain followed with the second-best time (1:20.968). But Wilson's car was determined to be two-point-five kilograms underweight. The race stewards took away his time and he was placed last. That moved Ireland's Ralph Firman to second, Germany's Nick Heidfeld third and France's Olivier Panis fourth.

Official qualifying takes place Saturday, and the French Grand Prix itself on Sunday.