The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Kimi Raikkonen takes pole position

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Sunday, Sep 10, 2006
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Kimi Raikkonen takes pole position

MONZA: Kimi Raikkonen won the pole position for the Italian Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday, and both Ferrari cars positioned themselves ahead of championship leader Fernando Alonso.

It was the 11th pole position of Raikkonen's career and the third this season.

0Raikkonen also started first in the German and Hungarian GP's, although he is still yet to win this year. ``It could go either way on Sunday, but I'm quite confident,'' Raikkonen said.

Raikkonen raced around the Monza circuit in 1 minute, 21.484 seconds. Michael Schumacher was second in 1:21.486, and BMW-Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was third in 1:21.653.

Massa qualifies fourth

Schumacher's Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa qualified fourth in 1:21.704 and Alonso was fifth at 1:21.829. ``If you look at where in particular Fernando is it's not too bad for us,'' Schumacher said.

``It would be nice to be on pole in our home grand prix but the important thing is to perform on Sunday.'' Schumacher trails Alonso by 12 points with four races remaining this season. Schumacher is expected to announce his retirement after Sunday's race and Raikkonen is expected to be his replacement at Ferrari next season. The right rear tyre on Alonso's car shredded early in the final session of qualifying and some pieces of his Renault car came flying off.

The Spaniard drove back into the pits with only a few rubber shreds hanging onto the steel cylinder of the wheel. Alonso eventually returned to the track but wasn't able to catch the leaders.

Red Bull's Christian Klien spun out and had his car towed off the track. Klien had already posted a time that qualified him for the second session but he was unable to return to the track and was the first driver eliminated in the middle phase.

The top 10: 1. Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren-Mercedes, 1min, 21.484s; 2. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 1:21.486; 3. Nick Heidfeld, BMW-Sauber, 1:21.653; 4. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:21.704; 5. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:21.829; 6. Jenson Button, Honda, 1:22.011; 7. Robert Kubica, BMW-Sauber, 1:22.258; 8. Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:22.280; 9. Rubens Barrichello, Honda, 1:22.787; 10. Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault, 1:23.175. — AP

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