SAKHIR, Bahrain — Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull will start Formula One’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix today from the pole position, while Michael Schumacher will start in seventh place in his comeback with Mercedes.
Vettel set a fastest time of 1 minute, 54.101 seconds Saturday to edge Ferrari’s Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, who have both won at the desert track.
Lewis Hamilton of McLaren will start fourth ahead of Nico Rosberg of Mercedes and Red Bull driver Mark Webber.
Seven-time champion Schumacher, racing for the first time in three years, was 1.423 seconds off of Vettel’s pace, but edged ahead of defending champion Jenson Button in eighth for McLaren.
“I just have to get into it,” said Schumacher, who will start from the same position he did on his debut at Belgium in 1991. “It’s challenging and that’s a good thing.”
Red Bull had tested less than its competitors but predictions of Vettel’s car’s speed were confirmed as he edged Massa — racing for the first time since a near-fatal crash in July — by just over one-tenth of a second and Alonso by half a second.
Edwards doubles his fun
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Mike Edwards raced to a pro stock victory and the No. 1 qualifying position at historic Gainesville Raceway.
The defending NHRA champion powered his Pontiac GXP to a win in the completion of the rain-delayed Arizona Nationals and earned his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season and 25th overall in the Gatornationals.
Antron Brown (top fuel), Matt Hagan (funny car) and Karen Stoffer (pro stock motorcycle) also topped qualifying.
IndyCar qualifying called off
SAO PAULO — Qualifying for today’s IndyCar season opener was postponed because the main straightaway lacked enough grip to make racing safe.
The Associated Press
Today’s races
IZOD INDYCAR
Sao Paulo Indy 300
Site: São Paulo
TV: Versus, 9:30 a.m.
Track: Streets of São Paulo (street course, 2.6 miles)
Race distance: 195 miles, 75 laps
Next race: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 28, streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.
On the Net:
FORMULA ONE
Bahrain Grand Prix
Site: Sakhir, Bahrain
TV: Speed, 5:30 a.m.
Track: Bahrain International (road course, 3.914 miles)
Race distance: 191.634 miles, 49 laps
Next race: Australian Grand Grix, March 28, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
On the Net: www.for-
NHRA
Gatornationals
Site: Gainesville, Fla.
TV: ESPN2, 4 p.m. (tape)
Track: Gainesville Raceway
Next event: NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, March 25-28, zMAX Dragway, Concord, N.C.
On the Net:
