The Hindu : Sport : Third straight pole for Massa

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Sunday, May 13, 2007
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Sport

Third straight pole for Massa

THUMBS-UP: McLaren-Mercedes's Fernando Alonso, Ferrari's Felipe Massa and his teammate Kimi Raikkonen acknowledge the crowd's cheers at the Catalunya racetrack after the qualifying session of the Spanish F-1 Grand Prix. — PHOTO: AFP

BARCELONA: Felipe Massa took his third straight pole position on Saturday for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix.

It was the fifth career pole for the Ferrari driver, who won the Bahrain GP last month after qualifying fastest.

Massa timed at 1 minute, 21.421 seconds on the 4.627-kilometer (2.875-mile) Circuit de Catalunya course.

"Three pole positions in a row, we're really quick and have a great car," Massa said. "We've been very competitive with McLaren the whole weekend so we're looking forward to having an important and good race."

Alonso second

Two-time defending world champion Fernando Alonso finished second for the third time this year with a time of 1:21.451. Alonso became the first Spaniard to win the Spanish GP after starting from pole last year.

"It's been a really good weekend for us with the car performing well so to be on front row reflects the competitive package we've put together,"

Alonso said. "Yesterday and today we saw a really close fight and this qualifying is another confirmation between how tight things are between the McLaren and Ferrari teams."

Raikkonen third

Massa's Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen finished third in qualifying for the third time in 2007, finishing in 1:21.723.

F-1 rookie Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, who topped two of the three practice sessions over the weekend including Saturday's, qualified fourth for the third time this year, clocking 1:21.785.

Alonso is tied for the championship lead with Hamilton and Raikkonen, with 22 points after three races. Massa has 17.

McLaren leads the constructors' standings with 44 points, five more than Ferrari.

Sunday's race is 66 laps. — AP

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