McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen recorded the fastest time after the first qualifying session for Sunday's European Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring.
The Finn, three points adrift of championship leader Michael Schumacher, clocked a time of one minute 29.989 seconds.
Schumacher, chasing his fifth win of the year and his 50th for Ferrari, was second quickest with a time 0.364 seconds slower than Raikkonen.
Juan Pablo Montoya and his Williams team-mate Ralf Schumacher were third and fourth respectively with Rubens Barrichello, winner here last year, fifth for Ferrari. David Coulthard was sixth for McLaren.
Jordan duo Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralph Firman finished ninth and 14th respectively.
Mark Webber struggled to keep his Jaguar on the slippery circuit and Cristiano da Matta, for Toyota, and BAR's former champion Jacques Villeneuve failed to clock times after spinning.
Olivier Panis, who gave the Cologne-based Toyota team a boost with the fastest time in free practice for their local race, finished a disappointing 17th.