Highlights

Button, Barrichello boost hopes

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-04-23 16:50

IMOLA, Italy - Briton Jenson Button boosted Honda's hopes of a first win in Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix after roaring to his fourth top three qualifying slot in a row.

The 26-year-old, still chasing the first grand prix win of his career after 103 starts, lines up on the front row alongside seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher at Ferrari's home circuit.

In the previous race in Australia this month he had started on pole position but failed to last the distance after his engine expired within sight of the finish while he was running in the points.

He did not expect that to happen again.

"I know I'm smiling but it is only qualifying," added Button. "Tomorrow's the important day and hopefully we have quite a good car for the race and I'm sure we've made enough improvements."

Button finished second at Imola in 2004, after starting on pole, and would have been third last year had his team not been disqualified for breaking the rules on weight and fuel.

With Brazilian Rubens Barrichello on the second row having qualified third, Honda had plenty to be optimistic about after a disappointing first three races.

"We understood a lot of the problems that we had in the races, since the beginning, not just in Melbourne," Barrichello told a post-qualifying news conference.

"We made the car faster, there's no doubt that the car is faster on race pace.

"Ferrari, with Michael, seems to be on another level in a way but we're here to win the race and we're going to give it everything and see if our work from last week paid off. I think it will," he added.

Barrichello, who has gleaned just two points for the team since he switched from Ferrari at the end of the year, congratulated the team.

"They know that I'm pushing very hard, I don't want to be playing second fiddle. There were some problems for me adapting to the car but obviously I'm a little bit happier," said the Brazilian.

"I've been working very hard with the team. The team has been listening to my requests and this is the proof of it."