Michael Schumacher showed that Ferrari are back on form in a big way by storming to pole position for the United States Grand Prix here on Sunday.
INDIANAPOLIS: Michael Schumacher showed that Ferrari are back on form in a big way by storming to pole position for the United States Grand Prix here on Sunday.
The seven-times World Drivers' Champion, 37, took his third pole of the year and the 67th of his career in one minute 10.832 seconds, and said: "We've been very strong all year long, but I was very surprised by the amount. It shows that when the package works we can be very strong. We have suffered in past but here works very well."
His Brazilian team-mate Felipe Massa was second but over six tenths of a second behind, as he completed a 1-2 for the Italian team.
Massa said: "My car was very oversteery in qualifying, but it's okay. I think we can have a strong race tomorrow for sure."
Italian Giancarlo Fisichella will start third in his Renault ahead of Brazilian Rubens Barrichello in a Honda.
Defending World Champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso, 24, who was going for his sixth straight pole, could only manage fifth in his Renault ahead of Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in a BMW Sauber and Briton Jenson Button in a Honda.
German Ralf Schumacher took eighth for Toyota, ahead of the disappointing Finn Kimi Raikkonen in a McLaren.
Another German, Nick Heidfeld, missed the chance to qualify higher than 10th when his BMW Sauber ground to a halt at the side of the track with 15 minutes remaining.
Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, 30, missed the cut for the top-ten shoot-out in his McLaren, as did Australian Mark Webber in a Williams and American Scott Speed, in a Toro Rosso, who received great support from his home crowd on his way to 13th. Dutchman Christijan Albers out-qualified his Portuguese team-mate Tiago Monteiro as both Midlands made it into the top 16 for the first time - ahead of Austrian Christian Klien in a Red Bull.
The first 15-minute session saw Massa set the pace, but there was a surprise as Italian Jarno Trulli - last year's pole-sitter - was eliminated after his Toyota began bottoming out through the banked turn 13.
Also knocked out in the first session were Briton David Coulthard in a Red Bull, the impressive Japanese driver Takuma Sato in a Super Aguri and German Nico Rosberg, who was poor for Williams.
Behind Trulli, his compatriot Vitantonio Liuzzi in a Toro Rosso and Frenchman Franck Montagny, in possibly his last race for Super Aguri, brought up the rear.
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