While everyone was waiting for Dams' Kobayashi to sign pole position at the Shanghai track today, it was Spaniard Roldan Rodriguez who ended up at the prestigious spot on his last lap.
The Japanese ace was almost once again the fastest man on track: after only four laps, he set the pace in a 1:45.492 and even went quicker at the chequered flag, but Rodriguez stole his thunder in a 1:45.233.
Another driver who could have gotten in the battle was Andreas Zuber, but the unfortunate FMS driver had to stop on his first outlap due to an engine problem.
Nine minutes into qualifying, James Jakes lost control of his car and crashed. The session was red flagged for eight minutes. At that moment, Kobayashi was quickest ahead of Petrov and teammate d'Ambrosio, all three men under 1:46. With 21 minutes to go, the cars went back on track except for the two Dams.
Ten minutes before the end of the session, Kobayashi and d'Ambrosio finally got back into action only to get back into the pits four minutes later as Al Fardan was stopped in the middle of the track: the Bahraini from GFH Team iSport lost the back of his car at turn 4 on cold tyre.
When the session resumed again, Javier Villa and Giedo Van der Garde both improved enough to get in the Top 5. At the chequered flag, Kamui Kobayashi also improved his laptime in a 1:45.418. Seconds later, Roldan Rodriguez crossed the finish line flat out and snatched pole position.
Javier Villa on Super Nova was third fastest. Also improving at the very last minute was ART's Yamamoto edging out Van der Garde for P4. Petrov, d'Ambrosio, Valsecchi, Bamber and Filippi complete the Top 10. Roldan Rodriguez.
Shanghai - Qualifications:
1. Roldan Rodriguez Piquet GP 1:45.233
2. Kamui Kobayashi Dams 1:45.418
3. Javier Villa Super Nova Racing 1:45.643
4. Sakon Yamamoto ART Grand Prix 1:45.643
5. Giedo Van der Garde GFH Team iSport 1:45.800
6. Vitaly Petrov Barwa Int. Campos Team 1:45.843
7. Jérôme d'Ambrosio Dams 1:45.885
8. Davide Valsecchi Durango 1:46.009
9. Earl Bamber My Qi-Meritus.Mahara 1:46.060
10. Luca Filippi BCN Competicion 1:46.084
11. Luiz Razia Trust Team Arden 1:46.130
12. Diego Nunes Piquet GP 1:46.169
13. Nelson Philippe ART Grand Prix 1:46.171
14. Hamad Al Fardan GFH Team iSport 1:46.305
15. Mika Maki Trust Team Arden 1:46.504
16. Chris Van der Drift Trident Racing 1:46.595
17. Yuhi Sekigushi DPR 1:46.733
18. Sergio Perez Barwa Int. Campos Team 1:46.809
19. Michael Herck DPR 1:46.843
20. Giacomo Ricci Trident Racing 1:47.010 13
21. Hiroki Yoshimoto BCN Competicion 1:47.231
22. Carlos Iaconelli Durango 1:47.355
23. Alex Yoong My Qi-Meritus.mahara 1:47.652
24. James Jakes Super Nova Racing 1:49.026
25. Kevin Nai Chia Chen Fisichella Motor Sport Int. 1:49.413
26. Andreas Zuber Fisichella Motor Sport Int. -- --
The Japanese ace was almost once again the fastest man on track: after only four laps, he set the pace in a 1:45.492 and even went quicker at the chequered flag, but Rodriguez stole his thunder in a 1:45.233.
Another driver who could have gotten in the battle was Andreas Zuber, but the unfortunate FMS driver had to stop on his first outlap due to an engine problem.
Nine minutes into qualifying, James Jakes lost control of his car and crashed. The session was red flagged for eight minutes. At that moment, Kobayashi was quickest ahead of Petrov and teammate d'Ambrosio, all three men under 1:46. With 21 minutes to go, the cars went back on track except for the two Dams.
Ten minutes before the end of the session, Kobayashi and d'Ambrosio finally got back into action only to get back into the pits four minutes later as Al Fardan was stopped in the middle of the track: the Bahraini from GFH Team iSport lost the back of his car at turn 4 on cold tyre.
When the session resumed again, Javier Villa and Giedo Van der Garde both improved enough to get in the Top 5. At the chequered flag, Kamui Kobayashi also improved his laptime in a 1:45.418. Seconds later, Roldan Rodriguez crossed the finish line flat out and snatched pole position.
Javier Villa on Super Nova was third fastest. Also improving at the very last minute was ART's Yamamoto edging out Van der Garde for P4. Petrov, d'Ambrosio, Valsecchi, Bamber and Filippi complete the Top 10. Roldan Rodriguez.
Shanghai - Qualifications:
1. Roldan Rodriguez Piquet GP 1:45.233
2. Kamui Kobayashi Dams 1:45.418
3. Javier Villa Super Nova Racing 1:45.643
4. Sakon Yamamoto ART Grand Prix 1:45.643
5. Giedo Van der Garde GFH Team iSport 1:45.800
6. Vitaly Petrov Barwa Int. Campos Team 1:45.843
7. Jérôme d'Ambrosio Dams 1:45.885
8. Davide Valsecchi Durango 1:46.009
9. Earl Bamber My Qi-Meritus.Mahara 1:46.060
10. Luca Filippi BCN Competicion 1:46.084
11. Luiz Razia Trust Team Arden 1:46.130
12. Diego Nunes Piquet GP 1:46.169
13. Nelson Philippe ART Grand Prix 1:46.171
14. Hamad Al Fardan GFH Team iSport 1:46.305
15. Mika Maki Trust Team Arden 1:46.504
16. Chris Van der Drift Trident Racing 1:46.595
17. Yuhi Sekigushi DPR 1:46.733
18. Sergio Perez Barwa Int. Campos Team 1:46.809
19. Michael Herck DPR 1:46.843
20. Giacomo Ricci Trident Racing 1:47.010 13
21. Hiroki Yoshimoto BCN Competicion 1:47.231
22. Carlos Iaconelli Durango 1:47.355
23. Alex Yoong My Qi-Meritus.mahara 1:47.652
24. James Jakes Super Nova Racing 1:49.026
25. Kevin Nai Chia Chen Fisichella Motor Sport Int. 1:49.413
26. Andreas Zuber Fisichella Motor Sport Int. -- --