Formula 1:Fernando Alonso edged out McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton after a dramatic qualifying session for tomorrow's Monaco Grand Prix.
The reigning world champion pipped the current leader by less than two tenths of a second around the tight, twisty street circuit of Monte Carlo.
In clocking a time of one minute 15.726 seconds, Alonso clinched the 16th pole of his career and will now look for the win to close the two-point gap to Hamilton at the top of the standings.
Qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix looked like turning into a lottery earlier after if the bright blue skies and glorious sunshine of the past few days over the principality gave way to the grey clouds and showers that had been forecast.
The 3.340km street circuit around Monte Carlo is difficult to drive under normal conditions, but a wet track turns the roads into a virtual skating rink as the cars tip-toe their way round.
Understandably, there were a few hairy moments as cars went off track as they missed corners and turns.
But unlike on Thursday, when there were four separate accidents, the 22 drivers managed to avoid the tyre walls and barriers.
Qualifying session 2 from the Monaco Formula One
1. Fernando Alonso
(Spain) McLaren
1:15.431
2. Lewis Hamilton
(Britain)
McLaren
1:15.479
3. Robert Kubica
(Poland) BMW
Sauber 1:15.576
4. Nick Heidfeld
(Germany) BMW
Sauber 1:15.733
5. Felipe Massa
(Brazil)
Ferrari
1:16.034
6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy)
Renault
1:16.054
7. Nico Rosberg
(Germany) Williams-Toyota 1:16.100
8. David Coulthard (Britain)
RedBull-Renault 1:16.391
9. Mark Webber
(Australia) RedBull-Renault 1:16.420
10. Rubens Barrichello
(Brazil) Honda
1:16.454
11. Jenson Button
(Britain)
Honda
1:16.457
12. Alexander Wurz
(Austria) Williams-Toyota 1:16.662
13. Vitantonio Liuzzi
(Italy) Toro
Rosso-Ferrari 1:16.703
14. Jarno Trulli
(Italy) Toyota
1:16.988
15. Heikki Kovalainen
(Finland) Renault
1:17.125
16. Kimi Raikkonen
(Finland) Ferrari
No time