1995 Japanese Formula 3000 Champion Toshio Suzuki got the pole position for Sunday's All Japan Championship, Formula Nippon Rd.8 at Mine Circuit after single car qualifying session Special Stage by top six qualifier in first Qualifying Session. His time was 1:13.918, bit slower than qualify time, but got the pole from previous pole sitter Ralf Schumacher.
German driver Ralf Schumacher was passed by young Spanish Pedoro De La Rosa, too and will start from third grid.
Rising Star Toranosuke Takagi had linkage problem and couldn't run well in qualifying. He will start from 17th grid. It will be interest race tomorrow.
Danish Tom Kristensen, lost FIA International F3000 seat because of financial problem, returned to Japan and replaced Masahiko Kondo of Team Navi Connection.
Mine Circuit, Yamaguchi-Pref., Japan -RIJ- Here are the Starting Grids for
Sunday's All Japan Championship, Formula Nippon Round-8 at Mine Circuit:
STARTING GRIDS:
September 14, 1996. Weather: Overcast, Course: Dry
Po No Driver Car Engine SS Time Q.Time (Pos.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 1 Toshio Suzuki (J) Lola T96/94 Mugen 1:13.918 1:13.605 (2)
2 9 Pedoro De La Rosa (E) Lola T96/51 Mugen 1:14.218 1:13.750 (3)
3 25 Ralf Schumacher (D) Reynard 96D Mugen 1:14.335 1:13.544 (1)
4 8 Shinji Nakano (J) Dome F104i Mugen 1:15.059 1:14.095 (4)
5 55 Katsutomo Kaneiishi(J) Reynard 95D Mugen 1:15.664 1:14.222 (5)
6 19 Kazuyoshi Hoshino (J) Lola T96/52 Mugen 1:15.835 1:14.353 (6)
--[Top 6 were decided after The Special Stage]--Q.Time----------------
7 24 Naoki Hattori (J) Reynard 96D Mugen 1:14.373
8 10 Norberto Fontana (RA) Lola T96/51 Mugen 1:14.478
9 56 Satoshi Motoyama (J) Reynard 95D Mugen 1:14.600
10 28 Tom Kristensen (DK) Reynard 94D Mugen 1:14.663
11 5 Marco Apicella (I) Reynard 95D Judd 1:14.689
12 65 Takuya Kurosawa (J) Reynard 96D Mugen 1:14.734
13 20 Andrew G.Scott (GB) Reynard 96D Mugen 1:14.745
14 12 Yukihiro Hane (J) Lola T94/50 Mugen 1:14.838
15 7 Masami Kageyama (J) Lola T95/50 Mugen 1:14.882
16 27 Masahiko Kageyama (J) Reynard 95D Mugen 1:15.070
17 6 Hidetoshi Mitsusada(J) Lola T94/50 Judd 1:15.221
18 21 Michael Krumm (D) Reynard 95D Mugen 1:15.235
19 64 Toranosuke Takagi (J) Reynard 96D Mugen 1:15.333
20 2 Katsumi Yamamoto (J) Dome104i Mugen 1:15.660
21 31 Hideki Okada (J) Lola T95 Mugen 1:15.806
22 30 Eiichi Tajima (J) Lola T94 Mugen 1:16.173
23 17 Taichiro Onishi (J) Lola T94/50 Mugen 1:16.829
24 72 Atsushi Kawamoto (J) Lola T93 DFV 1:18.462
25 73 Tesuji Tamanaka (J) Lola T93 DFV 1:18.673
----------[DNQ:]----------------------------------------
26 15 Masao Yamada (J) Lola T93 Mugen 1:22.158
--------------------------------------------------------
Spacial Stage is Single Car Qualifying Session by Top 6 Qualifiers
for Top 6 Starting Grids. They run 5 laps and middle 3 laps are
clocked.
Data: Mine Circuit & Nakajima Planning via NIFTY-Serve Auto Racing Forum.
RIJ-Mitsuru Sugaya/Tokyo,