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Formula One: BAR Honda's hopes dashed by heavy Hockenheim rain

30 July 2000

FIA Formula 1 World Championship - Round 11
German Grand Prix, Hockenheim - Qualifying Report

BAR HONDA'S HOPES DASHED BY HEAVY HOCKENHEIM RAIN
Saturday 29 July 2000

Lucky Strike Reynard BAR Honda had been hoping to build on the strong form
of recent weeks during this afternoon's qualifying for the German Grand
Prix. However, the team's efforts were frustrated by the unpredictability
of the local weather, leaving Jacques Villeneuve ninth and team mate
Ricardo Zonta 12th. 

The forecast rain descended just five minutes before the start of the
one-hour period. Villeneuve and Zonta joined much of the field to set an
early time. As the session developed, it turned out to be the only chance
to set a competitive lap time. Zonta's lap promised much, and he was on
course for a top six position, but he lost time behind the Prost of Jean
Alesi towards the end of the lap.
	
Villeneuve chose to do a second flying lap on his first run and the latest
specification Honda RA000E engine helped him to record the best time of
the day in the first sector. Unfortunately, conditions deteriorated at the
far end of the circuit and the Canadian spun under braking, abandoned his
stalled car and returned to the pits. He took the spare car, but the
continuing rain prevented either driver from making any improvement to
their grid position.

Jacques Villeneuve	Position: 9th	1min 48.121sec
"It was a good lap until I spun, but I guess it was pretty wet down there
because another four cars nearly did the same thing. Sadly, the new Honda
engine was not able to make a big difference in these conditions and
starting ninth is not ideal. I hope the weather is better tomorrow because
unpredictability is never a good thing at this level."

Ricardo Zonta	Position: 12th	1min 48.665sec
"I was on course for a 1:47.4 until I caught Alesi before the last
chicane. Then coming into the stadium he was very slow and I had to brake
very early. He lost the back end of his car, so I lifted; I went for the
inside, he came back, so I lifted again. I lost 1.2 seconds in total and
that would have put me fifth. It's a bit disappointing - I just wanted a
little bit of luck!"

Takefumi Hosaka - Managing Director, Honda R&D	
"Because of the rain we couldn't get the most out of the new engine. Both
the drivers and the team are frustrated that we could not follow the plan,
but weather and luck is all part of racing.  We maybe underestimated the
weather on the far side of the track; it was probably wetter than we
anticipated. Today's qualifying is not really representative; hopefully
with better weather, the race will be exciting tomorrow and we should be
able to show our true pace."
	
Jordan Mugen Honda suffered mixed fortunes today. Jarno Trulli secured an
excellent starting position of sixth place but Heinz-Harald Frentzen had
to overcome the more difficult conditions to finish 15th after his initial
time was disallowed for straight-lining the chicane.