The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Raikkonen takes pole on Ferrari debut

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Sunday, Mar 18, 2007
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Raikkonen takes pole on Ferrari debut

GREAT START: Kim Raikkonen of Finland became the first Ferrari driver in 51 years to secure pole in his first appearance for the Italian team. — PHOTO: AFP

MELBOURNE : Kimi Raikkonen will make his Ferrari debut on pole position in Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The Finnish `Iceman' saw off the challenge of McLaren's double World champion Fernando Alonso to become the first Ferrari driver in 51 years to secure pole in his first appearance for the Italian glamour team. The last was the late Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio in his home Grand Prix in 1956.

Alonso, who will make his McLaren debut after winning the Formula One championship for the past two years with Renault, had to make do with second place on the starting grid.

``I think we have a good race package. We are more confident for the race than for qualifying, definitely,'' said Raikkonen, successor at Ferrari to retired seven-time World champion Michael Schumacher. It was the 12th pole position of his career.

BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld shared the second row with McLaren's 22-year-old British rookie Lewis Hamilton, who continued an outstanding weekend by qualifying fourth for his debut race.

Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa, winner of the last Grand Prix of 2006 in Sao Paulo, failed to make the final qualifying session after slowing and pulling over with a gearbox problem. He will start 16th.

Grid position: First row: 1. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari, 2. Fernando Alonso (Esp) McLaren Mercedes; Second row: 3. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW-Sauber; 4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren Mercedes; Third row:

5. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW-Sauber; 6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault; Fourth row: 7. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull Racing; 8. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:28.404; Fifth row: 9. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota; 10. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri. — Agencies

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