Ralf Schumacher Wins Pole at French GP

MAGNY COURS, France July 5, 2003; Salvatore Zanca writing for thwe AP reported that Ralf Schumacher won the pole position for Sunday's French Grand Prix, the third time in the last four races he has been on the pole.

Juan Pablo Montoya, his Williams-BMW teammate, was second Saturday and brother Michael Schumacher of Ferrari was third.

"We had an all-Williams front row in Canada but we didn't get it right," Ralf Schumacher said. "There are so many things that can go wrong on race day."

Williams-BMW has won two of the last three races, with Ralf Schumacher capturing the last race and Montoya winning in Monaco.

Michael Schumacher has won the French Grand Prix six times, including last year when he clinched his fifth world title with six races to go.

Ralf Schumacher was timed in 1 minute, 15.019 seconds on the 2.74-mile Nevers-Magny Cours circuit. Montoya was next at 1:15.136 and Michael Schumacher was timed in 1:15.480,

Under new qualifying rules, the drivers have just one lap and go in reverse order from Friday's session.

Ralf Schumacher is third in the driver standings with 43 points after a victory, second and fourth in the last three races. Montoya has gone first second and third.

Michael Schumacher leads the driver standings, seven points ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, 58-51.

Ferrari has not been as dominant as it was last year when the team won 15 of 17 races.

"But I don't think we are losing anything," Michael Schumacher said. "It's just the others have got very strong."