Formula 1: McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen dashed Michael Schumacher's hopes of pole position today for what could be the Ferrari great's Italian Grand Prix farewell.
The Finn, widely expected to be announced as Schumacher's successor at the Italian glamour team after Sunday's race, pipped the seven-times champion by just 0.002 seconds in the Monza sunshine.
The Finn, widely expected to be announced as Schumacher's successor at the Italian glamour team after Sunday's race, pipped the seven-times champion by just 0.002 seconds in the Monza sunshine.
Schumacher, 12 points behind Renault's Fernando Alonso in the championship battle with four races remaining, lines up alongside on the front row at Formula One's fastest and oldest circuit.
Spaniard Alonso qualified only fifth fastest after a tyre drama that threatened to leave the 25-year-old champion even further down the grid.
"It's a comfortable position to be in...it would have been nice to be on pole here in our home grand prix but more important is what we may try and achieve tomorrow," said Schumacher.
BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was third, his team's best qualifying of the season, and shares the second row with Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa -- who took his first grand prix win at the last race in Turkey.
Alonso suffered a rear right puncture during the third and final qualifying phase, limping back to the pits with the clock ticking down before roaring back out to cross the line for his final flying lap with just two seconds to spare.
Raikkonen's third pole of the season, and 11th of his career, left the Finn with a hope at least of giving McLaren a first win of the year.
"It was very close but the car has been pretty good all weekend," he said after lapping in 1:21.484.
Schumacher's disappointment was tempered by Alonso's position, well behind and with Massa to act as a buffer.
Alonso had run down a slip road as he punctured the tyre on the approach to the first chicane, apparently on debris left behind by Super Aguri's Sakon Yamamoto from an earlier puncture that briefly halted the first part of qualifying.
His slow return to the pits on a bare wheel rim cost him precious time and inflicted severe damage on the rear bodywork of the Renault.
"It was a day when I was lucky and unlucky," said the Spaniard, whose team are just two points clear of Ferrari in the constructors's standings. "Obviously the puncture cost me a chance to fight for the pole, with the damage it caused to the rear of the car.
"But equally we had this problem at a circuit where we are competitive and we can make up positions in the race...once the damage has been fixed overnight, I think we can have a very strong race."
Briton Jenson Button, in a Honda, starts alongside Alonso despite having only 15 practice laps under his belt before qualifying due to engine problems.
Poland's Robert Kubica, in the second BMW Sauber, and McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa filled the fourth row.