Motor Racing: Patrese raises the bidding
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Your support makes all the difference.RICCARDO PATRESE has served notice that he plans to resist the push of his Williams-Renault team-mate, Nigel Mansell, to the Formula One world championship here tomorrow. Mansell's 12-year quest for motorsport's supreme title will end if he wins the Hungarian Grand Prix, no matter where Patrese or the only other interested party, Michael Schumacher, finish.
But Patrese was fastest in qualifying yesterday, 0.167sec ahead of the Englishman, and he believes he can retain the advantage in this afternoon's session. The Italian said: 'For once I didn't have any problems. I am confident I can be on pole. It would be nice to win a race at last.'
Williams insists they have not ordered Patrese to make way for his partner's championship campaign so far, and Mansell confirmed that there are no such instructions here. Their only command is: 'Don't take each other off.'
Mansell, in any case, still has an hour to promote himself to the head of the grid for the 10th time in 11 races and, provided it does not rain, the track should be considerably faster today. He was content enough, however, with a place on the front row, after a troubled day.
His fears about the consequences of the new fuel specifications, were allayed because, if they did make a difference, everyone was presumably affected to some degree. The grid had a familiar look about it, with the two Williams on top followed by Ayrton Senna's McLaren-Honda, Schumacher's Benetton-Ford and Gerhard Berger's McLaren. Thierry Boutsen, in a Ligier-Renault, beat Martin Brundle, in the other Benetton, to sixth place.
Mansell's morning preparations were hampered by an exhaust fire on his race car and an electrical fault on his spare. His momentum in the afternoon was interrupted by a spin, a hold-up in proceedings for the removal of stricken cars, and the subsequent intensity of traffic.
He said: 'It was like Monte Carlo out there, the traffic was so bad. I almost T-boned someone. The track is very slippery and to make things worse, they've taken away the kerbs, which means that when people put a wheel off the track, it sends up clouds of dust.
'It's preferable to be on pole here, but after a tough day like this I'm pleased to be on the front row, and historically the track is quicker on the second day.
'I'm probably calmer than I've been all year. They say the pressure is on, but I feel the pressure is off. I've got a 46-point lead, or 4.6 races in my pocket with six races left. The most important thing is to pick up some more points and that's what I'm looking to do.'
It is, of course, just a matter of time for Mansell. If not here, the moment will surely come in Belgium two weeks on. Senna, who did not after all try McLaren's active suspension, might still confuse the issue if he makes a good start on this tight, winding circuit. His typically aggressive endeavours propelled him into a couple of spins yesterday, but his talent and determination could prove a formidable combination in the race. Senna said he suffered a definite reduction of power because of the fuel restrictions and echoed Mansell's sentiments about the traffic.
Johnny Herbert was 11th fastest but Damon Hill, in the sole Brabham-Judd, was 29th, three places short of the provisional grid. Perry McCarthy's anquish goes on and Fisa, the governing body, threatened his team, Andrea Moda- Judd, with a one-race ban if they do not make a more concerted effort in Belgium. The Englishman was sent out just 1min 20sec before the end of the pre-qualifying session, insufficient time to register a competitive lap.
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX (Budapest) First qualifying times: 1 R Patrese (It) Williams-Renault 1min 15.476sec (ave speed 189.263kph, 117.602mph); 2 N Mansell (GB) Williams-Renault 1:15.643; 3 A Senna (Bra) McLaren-Honda 1:16.467; 4 M Schumacher (Ger) Benetton-Ford 1:17.070; 5 G Berger (Aut) McLaren-Honda 1:17.277; 6 T Boutsen (Bel) Ligier-Renault 1:18.799; 7 M Brundle (GB) Benetton-Ford 1:18.843; 8 E Comas (Fr) Ligier-Renault 1:19.193; 9 I Capelli (It) Ferrari 1:19.313; 10 J Alesi (Fr) Ferrari 1:19.511; 11 J Herbert (GB) Lotus-Ford 1:19.555; 12 G Tarquini (It) Fondmetal-Ford 1:19.555; 13 M Hakkinen (Fin) Lotus-Ford 1:19.587; 14 B Gachot (Bel) Venturi-Lamborghini 1:19.819; 15 A de Cesaris (It) Tyrrell-Ilmor 1:20.003; 16 U Katayama (Jap) Venturi-Lamborghini 1:20.209; 17 M Gugelmin (Bra) Jordan- Yamaha 1:20.481; 18 M Alboreto (It) Footwork- Mugen Honda 1:20.538; 19 S Modena (It) Jordan- Yamaha 1:20.819; 20 A Suzuki (Jap) Footwork- Mugen Honda 1:21.064; 21 K Wendlinger (Aut) March-Ilmor 1:21.116; 22 O Grouillard (Fr) Tyrrell-Ilmor 1:21.193; 23 E Van De Poele (Bel) Fondmetal-Ford 1:21.741; 24 A Zanardi (It) Minardi-Lamborghini 1:21.756; 25 P Belmondo (Fr) March-Ilmor 1:21.781; 26 G Morbidelli (It) Minardi-Lamborghini 1:22.176; 27 R Moreno (Bra) Andrea Moda-Judd 1:22.286; 28 J J Lehto (Fin) Dallara-Ferrari 1:22.364; 29 D Hill (GB) Brabham-Judd 1:22.369; 30 P Martini (It) Dallara- Ferrari 1:22.731.
Mansell's long road, page 42
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