Qualifying Differentials

	by Marcel Borsboom, Netherlands

Atlas F1 is going to keep an eye on the battle between teammates throughout the season with a simple measurement: we compare the qualifying times of each driver against his teammate's result. After every Grand Prix, we will show how teammates have fared up against each other, and where they are overall since the beginning of the season. At the end of the season, the World Champion of Qualifying Differentials will be elected - the driver who was most beaten by his teammates, in seconds. Only those who participate in at least 15 of the 17 rounds are eligible for the coveted crown; and for those who made the efforts and participated in all 17 races, the best and worst result will be scrapped. With seven qualifying session completed for 2000, the differentials are once again on a roll! Let's see which drivers deserve bragging rights. Monaco Notables Schumacher Sr. Michael Schumacher set his 25th career pole in Monaco, which moved him one spot up in the overall top pole setters. Michael is now sixth overall, ahead of Mika Hakkinen, Niki Lauda and Neslon Piquet (with 24 poles each), and behind Juan Manuel Fangio, with 29 poles in 5th. Barrichello. Before the race, the Other Ferrari Driver had a weekend to forget. The Brazilian set his worse qualifying of the season, although everything is relative - Rubens qualified sixth, almost a second behind teammate Schumacher. The excuses: many were complaining about traffic but it seems no was was as unlucky as Mika Hakkinen. The reigning World Champion had three of his fastlaps ruined by slowing down cars (notably Ralf Schumacher) or yellow flags. Changes since Spain: Seeing as Herbert qualified so closely to teammate Irvine, and Mazzacane did the same to Gene, the top of the overal table is becoming increasingly close. With ten more qualifying sessions to go in 2000, the Qualifying Differentials is truly wide open. The average gap between teammates in Monaco was 0.486s. This, compared to the average in Europe which was 0.546; 0.48s in Spain; 0.725s in Britain; 0.654s in San Marino; 0.455s in Brazil; and 0.874s in Australia.

Marcel Borsboom	© 2000 Kaizar.Com, Incorporated.
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