Jensen Button Takes Honda to Montreal F1 Pole Ahead of Todays Race

Rookie American Scott Speed in 3rd Driver Position for Red Bull

If you watch one or two Formula One events per year, the Canadian Grand Prix, which takes place today at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, named after one of Canadas greatest race drivers of all time who died May 8, 1982 at Zolder, Belgium, and father of 1997 F1 Champion Jacques Villeneuve who is back in action in Montreal this weekend, is one to see, as is the Indianapolis event in a weeks time.

Of course, if youve missed the 2005 season because 2004 wasnt exciting enough for you, youll be saddened to hear that 2005 has been one of the most intensely fought than any in recent history. And compared to last year, when Michael Schumacher dominated in nearly every race, his Ferrari has averaged mid-pack at best while Renaults Fernando Alonso seems to be running away with the championship, Toyotas Jarno Trulli is a relatively close second, and McLarens Kimi Räikkönen is climbing up the charts quickly. Clearly, its anyones series to win.

And if yesterdays qualifying session is anything to go by, the flip-flopping of top teams and dominating drivers this season isnt about to change. Jensen Button, who has had an awful first eight races to the current season, two weekends where his BAR team was disqualified for pushing the series rules regarding fuel tanks, has taken pole position with his BAR Honda, the second of his career, displacing both Renault and McLaren, which were expected to be vying for top spot. The Honda looks fast, but only the first half dozen laps of todays race will tell for sure.

"I was pleasantly surprised. I didnt expect to be so much quicker than the opposition," commented Button. "Before qualifying I thought both the McLarens and the Renaults would be quicker than us."

Adding to the shakeup, runner up to the pole was an elated Michael Schumacher, who took second place only 0.258 seconds behind Button.

Renaults Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella took third and fourth, while Juan Pablo Montoya has finally upped his teammate Kimi Räikkönen as he becomes more acquainted with the McLaren team and its new car. Japanese driver Takuma Sato, who replaced Jacques Villeneuve in the BAR Honda at the tail end of the 2003 season, will start right behind in sixth place.

Next on the grid will be Räikkönen, in striking distance from the front runners, followed by local favorite, but still long shot Jacques Villeneuve driving the Swiss-based Sauber Petronas car, upsetting his teammate Felipe Massa who only managed eleventh.

At 33 degrees Celsius ambient, and a scorching 53 degrees on the track, driving conditions are ideal if not a bit too hot, melting the fresh tarmac in some of the tighter corners.

But such conditions havent helped two teams that are expected to be higher up the field, Toyota and Williams BMW. The former could only muster ninth and tenth places by Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher respectively, while the Williams teammates, Nick Heidfeld and Mark Webber lagged in the rear in thirteenth and fourteenth places respectively, with regular backbenchers Jordan and Minardi.

Also disappointing was Chris Horners new upstart Red Bull team, which has done so well in previous encounters. Christian Klien comes back into the roster to replace rookie Tonio Liuzzi, and due to missing three events while the newcomer got his feet wet is expected to perform as well or better than veteran David Coulthard when the race gets underway, if past performance is any indication. The two sit twelfth and sixteenth respectively, with easy targets ahead of Klien when he finds his legs again. Klien had to qualify first, which is never a good omen, and the cold, dusty track did not befriend his attempt.

But Canadian fans are most excited to see Jacques Villeneuve in the top ten, and ahead of cheeky teammate Massa.

"That was the most satisfying performance of my season so far, and I am very happy. Usually in qualifying you make a little mistake here or there, because you are on the limit - maybe you lock a wheel or miss an apex. But on that lap I didnt make a single mistake and it couldnt have been better," the Canadian said. "We know that qualifying is harder for us than the races, which seem to suit the C24 better, so it will be down to making a strong start tomorrow. The first corner here can be difficult, but if there is any incident hopefully we are sufficiently far up the grid to avoid it. That should be an advantage."

It is expected that JV is fueled light, meaning hell have to come into the pits earlier than some others who may have chosen the option of a heavier fuel load and fewer trips to the pits. The exact strategy Jacques chose, or his rivals, will only be known when the race plays out later today, at 1PM EST (10AM PST) on CBS or Speed Channel.

Make sure to tune in next week for the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis, always an exciting race. The race weekend will be even more eventful for homegrown Scott Speed. The 22-year-old native of Manteca, Calif., now residing in Austria to be closer to the Red Bull team, is the first American to run an F1 car on a grand prix weekend since Michael Andretti made 13 starts for Marlboro McLaren in 1993.

Hes piloting the third car for Red Bull, alongside David Coulthard and Christian Klien, but with both drivers healthy his contribution to the team was purely for testing. Still, the Californian kid managed quicker lap times than both experienced F1 drivers, boding well for his future in the highly competitive sport. Unfortunately, Speed, who has a most apropos name for the job, spun his car during Fridays second practice.

Speed impressed his team, despite his spin, with team boss Christian Horner saying, "Scotts performing this weekend is not because of his nationality, but because of the pace hes shown. The engineers have been extremely impressed with what hes done within the team so far."

Times and qualifying positions:

1. Button BAR 1:15.217
2. M Schumacher Ferrari 1:15.475
3. Alonso Renault 1:15.561
4. Fisichella Renault 1:15.577
5. Montoya McLaren 1:15.669
6. Sato BAR 1:15.729
7. Räikkönen McLaren 1:15.923
8. Villeneuve Sauber 1:16.116
9. Trulli Toyota 1:16.201
10. R Schumacher Toyota 1:16.362
11. Massa Sauber 1:16.661
12. Coulthard Red Bull 1:16.890
13. Heidfeld Williams 1:17.081
14. Webber Williams 1:17.749
15. Albers Minardi 1:18.214
16. Klien Red Bull 1:18.249
17. Karthikeyan Jordan 1:18.664
18. Monteiro Jordan 1:19.034
19. Friesacher Minardi 1:19.574
20. Barrichello Ferrari no time