Jose Maria Lopez and Patrick Friesacher impressed during qualifying for thelast ever FIA Formula 3000 International Championship race at Monza.

Lopez, driving for the Coloni Motorsport-managed CMS Performance team, was fourth fastest, while Friesacher, in the lead Coloni entry, set the fifthquickest time.

“Lopez and Friesacher both set some good times but could not improve theirpositions on their last set of tyres because they encountered sometraffic,” said team principal Paolo Coloni.

“I’ve been very pleased with Lopez this weekend because he did not testhere earlier in the season but was immediately in the top three places andthis has been important for his confidence,” said Coloni.

“Patrick will drive to the maximum tomorrow to keep third place in thechampionship and it will be very good for the team to get a podium finishhere,” Coloni added. “I think the race tomorrow will be very interestingbut the start and first corner will be vital.”

Mathias Lauda was 14th quickest after being hampered by engine problems in the second CMS car. Chanoch Nissany completed the 18-car grid in hisColoni-run machine, which was delayed by transmission failure.

Today’s final round will bring the curtain down on the FIA Formula 3000series after 20 seasons. The category will be replaced by the new GP2championship as the official feeder series to the FIA Formula One WorldChampionship from next year.

Provisional qualifying times (selected positions):

1 Vitantonio Liuzzi (Arden) 1m38.647s2 Rafaele Gianmaria (Astromega) 1m39.062s3 Robert Doornbos (Arden)  1m39.203s4 Jose Maria Lopez (CMS)  1m39.268s5 Patrick Friesacher (Coloni) 1m39.844s6 Tomas Enge (Ma-Con)  1m39.394s14 Mathias Lauda (CMS)  1m40.542s18 Chanoch Nissany (Coloni) 1m43.800s