Schumacher finally ends Alonso's pole run

By Volker Gundrum Jul 1, 2006, 18:53 GMT

German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of the Scuderia Ferrari team in action during the third practice session at the Indianapolis Speed Motorway race track in Indianapolis, United States on Saturday; 01 July 2006. United States Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, 02 July 2006. EPA/KERIM OKTEN

Indianapolis - Michael Schumacher ended Fernando Alonso's run of five straight pole positions on Saturday by winning first place on the grid for the United States Grand Prix he now wants to win in proper fashion.

Schumacher beat the championship leader Alonso by more than 1.5 seconds as the Spaniard had to settle for fifth place in his Renault.

'Here on this circuit everything matches perfectly. We can be very strong if all goes well,' said the delighted Schumacher, who now hopes to reopen the title fight.

Ferrari were tipped to do well in Indianapolis as the track suits them better than Renaults. Schumacher won last year's race but only six cars competed then after all Michelin teams including Renault withdrew over safety concerns issued by the French tyre makers.

Renault seemingly took no chances this time around with a conservative tyre selection which could have also worked in Ferrari's favour as Schumacher and team-mate Felipe Massa dominated the session.

Schumacher clocked 1 minute 10.832 seconds on the 4.192-kilometres course. Massa had 1:11.435 minutes.

Alonso, who came to Indianapolis with four straight wins and five poles in a row, had to settle for fifth place in 1:12.449 in his Renault, trailing team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella (1:11.920) and ex- Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello in a Honda (1:12.109).

'We are very surprised about the Ferrari pace. They are faster than us but we didn't think they would be that fast,' said Fisichella.

There was speculation whether Alonso was riding with more fuel which would enable him to stay out longer before pitting on Sunday in the 73-lap race for 306.016km, which could reduce the gap and lift him at least onto the podium.

Schumacher, meanwhile, hopes to make the most of being four positions ahead of the Spanish champion as needs victory and others in-between to really catch up again.

Alonso, who has won six races and placed second in the other three, leads the championship with 84 points from nine of 18 season races, with Schumacher a distant second on 59 points.

'We have to make the gap as big as possible,' said Schumacher, who eyes a fourth straight and fifth overall win in Indianapolis and also hopes for a thrilling race as well to reconcile the fans again.

'The fans were obviously disappointed last year and I hope we can make up for it,' he said.

The 2005 pole position holder Tarno Trulli, meanwhile, did not even survive the first round of qualifying as he damaged the suspension of his Toyota riding over a curb and will have to start from 19th place on the grid.