The Italian, who ultimately finished eighth, might have troubled the Nurburgring leaders had he not received a penalty.
"I'm not saying I was going to win," he insisted this week, "but it was not completely out of the question."
Trulli, 30, also qualified fourth - ahead of race winner Fernando Alonso - and was 'certainly' not light with fuel.
JT, given a drive through penalty after mechanics struggled to fire up his engine, continued: "I think it was one of the best qualifying laps I have ever driven.
"The penalty completely ruined my race."
- GMM