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Schumacher confident after record pole

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-04-23 16:32

IMOLA, Italy - Michael Schumacher saw Ferrari's first win of the season in his grasp on Saturday after securing one of the few Formula One records not already his.

The 37-year-old's 66th career pole position allowed him to overtake Brazilian Ayrton Senna's mark of 65 set the day before the triple champion died at the same Imola circuit in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Schumacher won the race for Benetton that black afternoon and, 12 years on, the prospect of an 86th victory appeared to fill him with more excitement than the afternoon's historic achievement.

"It is very nice to be back on pole again and of course the fact it is my 66th and so a new record is something very special for me," said the seven times champion who has not won since June last year.

"At the moment, I am concentrating totally on this weekend so I think I will only really appreciate fully what I have done at a later time," added the German, who has yet to decide whether to continue racing after 2006.

"Yesterday I said I was aiming for pole and the win. Today we have reached the first target and I hope I can make the second one tomorrow," said Schumacher.

"I am convinced we have a good chance of winning."

RECORD COLLECTION

He already had the most wins, titles, points and fastest laps, as well as other records such as the most wins in a season (13), most successive wins in a single season (seven) and most podiums (143).

If the German continues next year he could also take the record for race starts from Riccardo Patrese. The retired Italian racer had 256 to Schumacher's current tally of 234.

Schumacher, so dominant in 2004, has not won since he led home a six-car field at the U.S. Grand Prix last year after the seven Michelin teams withdrew before the start for tyre safety reasons.