Pizzonia excluded, Sato now on pole.

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia has been excluded from the first Formula Three qualifying session at Silverstone, following a clash with Ireland's Warren Carway.

A report from track officials found the championship leader to have been 'driving in a manner not compatible with general safety' after he clashed with Rowan Racing's Carway approaching Becketts. Pizzonia was said to have slowed suddenly when running ahead of the Irishman, and the two cars touched causing damage to both.

Pizzonia's exclusion elevates Takuma Sato to the top of the times, but the Brazilian has a chance to make amends in the second session later this afternoon [Saturday]. The decision creates another ironic twist, as Sato was demoted from one the two poles he earned at Donington Park last time out, after his airbox was found to be illegal.

The exclusion also presents the Japanese driver's Carlin Motorsport team-mate Ben Collins with a provisional top ten grid slot

Revised qualifying times - F3 - Silverstone.

1. Takuma Sato Carlin 1min 15.573secs
2. Nicolas Kiesa RC Benetton 1min 15.865secs
3. Tomas Scheckter Stewart 1min 15.903secs
4. Milos Pavlovic RC Benetton 1min 15.932secs
5. Narain Karthikeyan Stewart 1min 16.183secs
6. Andrew Kirkaldy Avanti 1min 16.195secs
7. Juan Manuel Lopez Manor 1min 16.268secs
8. Gianmaria Bruni Fortec 1min 16.284secs
9. Andy Priaulx Promatecme 1min 16.477secs
10. Ben Collins Carlin 1min 16.532secs

Scholarship Class: Gary Paffett Fred Goddard 1min 17.426secs