Schumacher Gets Last Run and Takes the Canadian Pole From Villeneuve

Michael Schumacher wrested the Canadian Grand Prix pole from Jacques Villeneuve, leaving the 26-year-old Canadian to take the outside spot on the front row for today’s race on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve--the course named after Jacques’ late father.

As expected, the one-hour qualifying session was mainly a duel between Schumacher in a Ferrari and Villeneuve in a Williams-Renault.

Schumacher, the 1994 Canada winner, gave Ferrari its first pole of the season and earned the 15th of his Formula One career. Starting his final lap just seconds before the checkered flag, he threw his blood red car through the turns with abandon as he fought for the pole, gaining it with a time of 1:18.095.

“Basically, every qualifying lap is like this,” Schumacher said. “There is a little more pressure on you when it’s the last lap, but you either have the strength to do it or you don’t.”

Villeneuve, who qualified and finished second to then-teammate Damon Hill last year as a rookie--and also was runner-up in the race--was second in 1:18.108.

Villeneuve, who leads Schumacher by only three points in the season standings, tried hard to raise the target in the final two minutes, locking his brakes on consecutive laps as he failed to improve on his time.

Rubens Barrichello of Brazil was a major surprise, taking the third spot on the 22-car grid in a Stewart-Ford in 1:18.388.

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Midway through the Le Mans 24 Hours race at Le Mans, France, factory-backed Porsches were in the lead, stubbornly trailed by last year’s winner.

Thierry Boutsen, Bob Wollek and Hans Stuck had completed 181 laps in a Porsche 911. That left them a lap ahead of the other factory Porsche, with Yannick Dalmas, Ralf Kelleners and Emmanuel Collard sharing the driving.

The Joest Porst of Michele Alboreto, Stefan Johansson and Tom Kristiansen was third, less than a lap behind. It had led qualifying on the 8.456-mile circuit. Last year, a Joest TWR Porsche won the race with three different drivers.

McLaren F1 GTRs were in the next three positions.

Mario Andretti’s effort to win the only major car title that has eluded him was marred by gear box and clutch problems.

Andretti, his son Michael and Frenchmen Olivier Grouillard were teamed in a Courage Porsche, but their car was in 18th place, 30 laps behind the leaders. It was in the pits twice for more than 1 1/2 hours.

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Joe Amato in top fuel, Randy Anderson in funny car, Jim Yates in pro stock and Matt Hines in pro stock motorcycle were the leaders going into today’s Pontiac Excitement Nationals at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio. The event is the 10th stop in the 22-race, $30-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

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Santa Monica’s Tom Kendall, driving a Ford Mustang Cobra, was the fastest qualifier for the ninth consecutive SCCA Trans-Am race, turning a lap at 98.149 mph at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course at Lexington, Ohio.