MOT: Qualifying crash leaves Webber trailing

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2001
MOT: Qualifying crash leaves Webber trailing

By Robert Grant

MELBOURNE, April 29 AAP - Mark Webber paid the price for his crash in qualifying and
consequent poor grid spot in the third round of the Formula 3000 Championship in Spain.

Webber charged off the start line from 11th on the grid at Barcelona's Montmelo circuit,
making up four places on the opening lap of the 151.2-km race.

However, the remaining 31 laps of the race - the main support act to this weekend's
Spanish Grand Prix - became a procession.

Webber, 24, from Queanbeyan, trailed highly-rated Brazilian youngster Antonio Pizzonia
throughout the race but, unable to overtake, had to be content with seventh place.

That meant not adding to the 10 points he has in the series, and slipping from second
to third place on the championship table.

Webber's 10 points came from his victory in the second round at Imola in Italy two
weeks ago and he would be leading the series if he had not lost six points on penalty
after finishing second at the opening race in Brazil.

British driver Justin Wilson now leads with 15 points and is the only driver to have
scored at each round.

Wilson started from pole position in Barcelona but finished third, while his teammate
Tomas Enge, from the Czech Republic, won the race and moved up to second in the points
on 14.

Belgian driver Bas Leinders finished second in Spain, while Webber's teammate, Brazilian
Mario Haberfeld, was fourth and another Belgian, David Saelens, was fifth for the junior
outfit of Australian Paul Stoddart's European Minardi F1 team.

"It was a good first lap, but that was about it," Webber said after the race.

"The cars are so closely matched that passing was out of the question on this track
apart on the first lap as things sorted themselves out.

"Qualifying (badly) is what hurt us this weekend."

A high-speed crash coming on to the main straight in Friday's first qualifying session
put Webber's Super Nova car out of action for all but the last 15 minutes of the second
session.

He had complained of the car lacking grip before the crash and was lucky to even qualify
11th after the time lost on repairs.

Webber's next assignment is a three-day test with the Benetton F1 team this week at
Valencia, also in Spain, ahead of preparations for the fourth round of the F3000 series
in Austria at the next GP in two weeks.

AAP rg/mw

KEYWORD: MOTOR WEBBER

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