Fernando Alonso is expecting a “tough battle” for victory in this weekend’s US Grand Prix.  Rubens Barrichello admits Honda is heading for another difficult weekend at Indianapolis after struggling for pace in Montreal last Sunday. Juan Pablo Montoya says he is “very comfortable” with his options for 2007 despite not having yet secured a drive to remain on the Formula 1 grid next season. 

* Engine Change - drops 10 places on the grid

As predicted the Ferrari´s were dominant in qualifying this afternoon, not only in the last session, but in all three segments, so tomorrow there will be an all Ferrari front row Michael Schumacher being 0.6s quicker than the oversteering Felipe Massa and over one second faster than the first Renault of Giancarlo Fisichella who throughout this afternoon was faster than Fernando Alonso, who at one stage looked as if he would not make the top ten.  However he improved during the third session and it looked until the end to be a Renault second row, but he was demoted to the third row by Rubens Barichello in the final seconds. Fisichella commented at the drivers debriefing, "We are very surprised how quick Ferrari are."  Alonso had thought that the threat would come from Kimi Raikkonen.   Nick Heidfeld had to pull off the track early on in the third segment and Jarno Trulli (pole man last year) was out in the first segment with ride height trouble, having to retire after just three laps.  Both Williams complained of handling problems.  The two Midlands Toyotas made it into second segment after their good showing yesterday, Johnny Herbert obviously doing a good job despite the small budget.

Fastest lap - Michael Schumacher

Ferrrari repeated their one two victory here for the second year running (however last year being a shallow victory).  There was a first lap/first corner carnage with ten of the cars being eliminated in two seperate incidents, the first appearing to be caused by Juan Pablo Montoya running into the back of Kimi Raikkonen and whilst there will be an investigation McLaren team boss during the race commented that really it was a racing incident.  Nick Heidfeld came off worse going head over heals into the gravel trap, Scott Speed an Jenson Button being involved, the Honda driver continuing for another 3 laps before calling it a day.  In the other incident Klien, Webber and Montagny were eliminated, these incidents bring out the safety car for 5 laps.  At the restart Felipe Massa overtook Michael Schumacher and led until the first pit stop, a slow in lap allowing the Ferrari drivers to reverse position.  Alonso, despite a good start, challenging the two red cars into the first corner,  in an oversteering Renault was holding up Giancarlo Fisichella, but once past the Spaniard the Italian managed to keep pace with the two Ferraris. Ralf Schumacher, and Jacques Villeneuve were also able to keep pace with the Fernando and his place looked in danger from any of these 3 drivers.  The Canadian retired on lap 23 in a puff of smoke.  Jarno Trulli who had elected to start from the pit lane, having had to take the car out of "Parc Ferme" to replace a broken rear damper, had been steadily moving through the field.  Alonso´s slow second pit stop allowed both the Toyotas in front of him, but the younger Schumacher brother had to retire 10 laps from the end with a wheel bearing failure.  Jarno Trulli was the "driver of the day" and looked as if he could have snatched third position from Giancarlo Fisichella towards the end.  Maybe Toyota have managed to sort their chassis out and will be more competitive during the second half of the season?