'Disappointing not to set time in qualifying'

New Delhi: Narain Karthikeyan was disappointed not to have participated in the qualifying session of the Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday.

"There was a problem with the rear suspension of my car. A bearing had broken. The team couldn't fix it on time. It was disappointing not to have been a part of qualifying as I was confident of qualifying within 107 per cent of the pole position time. We couldn't get the car fixed in time," Narain told IBNlive.com from Monaco after the end of the qualifying session.

Neither the Indian driver nor his HRT teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi managed to set time in the qualifying session. Liuzzi was earlier involved in an accident in free practice earlier. However, both of them will start in the on Sunday after getting stewards' approval based on their practice times.

On prospects for Sunday's race, Narain said his targets are realistic, based on what the car is capable of doing.

Speaking about the back injury he suffered in Barcelona last week, Narain who is still experiencing pain, said he was on painkillers. "I don’t know what happened but there was some problem with the heat insulation of the seat," he said.

On the possibility of the 2011 season stretching till mid-December, Narain said it will be extremely tough not only for the drivers but also for other team members.