Fans can make a strong argument that there is no series on the planet that stresses the importance of qualifying like Formula One.
The qualifying session itself is a spectacle like no other, with fast laps constantly being set even after the final bell rings. The pressure of making the second and third sessions often makes for entertaining moments, and the man sitting on the top of the times at the end of the three sessions has reason to feel very optimistic entering Sunday.
There is no track on the schedule that emphasizes how critical qualifying is more than Catalunya.
While clinching a front-row spot at Monaco is important, history says it's imperative in Spain.
In the 20 events held there, only once has a driver won after starting outside the front row. That was Michael Schumacher in 1996, a race marred by rain. Only six finishers were classified, and it was Schumacher's first victory with Ferrari. He started the race third.
What's more, the polesitter has converted his prime position into a victory in 10 straight races here. No other track on the 2011 calendar has an active streak of more than two straight.
An offseason testing venue for teams, Catalunya has often been tabbed as a relatively dull race with little overtaking, but it has not yet seen the combination of KERS and DRS.
If Red Bull takes the front row like it did at Turkey, however, this race could well be over before the drivers even see the red lights go out.
Despite its tame nature, the track has featured some late-race drama recently. Last year, Lewis Hamilton saw a potential second-place finish wash away after an accident with only a handful of laps to go. It was no fault of his own, but it allowed for Sebastian Vettel, who was having brake issues, to come home with a podium finish.
The year prior, Felipe Massa had to ease off the throttle for the late stages of the race after Ferrari miscalculated his fuel load. It resulted in both Vettel and Fernando Alonso overtaking him in the waning moments.
Mark Webber is one man who has a great chance at claiming a spot on the front row Sunday.
He cruised to victory there last year, and has improved on his finishing position in every race so far this season. This time last season was arguably his strongest portion of the year, winning back-to-back events in Spain and Monaco during the month of May.
This is the shortest track on the schedule thus far at just more than four and a half kilometers.
That's great news for Webber, the driver who found the most success in 2010 on the five tracks that are shorter than five kilometers (Spain, Monaco, Canada, Hungary and Brazil). In those events, he took three wins and was the only driver to amass more than 100 total points.
The Australian will also be looking to buck a trend of late at the track.
Catalunya, on the schedule since 1991, was once rife with defending winners again reaching the top podium step the very next season. In the first 14 events here, the defending winner also won the very next season on seven occasions.
The phenomenon has not occurred from 2005 through the present day, however. Legends such as Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen were all able to successfully defend their victories at the Barcelona circuit, but lately, greats like Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen have failed to do so.
Perhaps the amount of preseason testing here has given more of the top teams an even playing field, as the extensive track time means few stones have been left unturned when the teams arrive at Catalunya during the season.
