Ferrari's day as Schumacher, Massa one-two in qualifying

By Elmar Dreher Jul 15, 2006, 16:51 GMT

German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher (L) of the Scuderia Ferrari team steers his car in front of Spanish Fernano Alonso (R) of the Renault F1 team during the Qualifying session at the Magny Cours race track near Nevers in France on Saturday 15 July 2006. Schumacher got the pole position, Felipe Massa of the Scuderia Ferrari second and Fernando Alonso of the Renault F1 team is on third grid. The French Grand Prix will be held on 16 July 2006. EPA/GUENTER SCHIFFMAN

Magny-Cours, France - Michael Schumacher finished ahead of team-mate Felipe Massa as Ferrari spoilt the show for Renault in the qualifying session for the French Grand Prix on Saturday.

The Ferrari duo beat Renault's world championship leader Fernando Alonso, who must now fear that his current 19-point lead over Schumacher will be further cut in Sunday's race.

Schumacher and Alonso delighted the fans by jostling for position early in the final qualifying round.

For Schumacher and Massa, the outcome was confirmation that their one-two finish from two weeks ago in Indianapolis, attributed to the fact that the course suits Ferrari better than Renault, was no fluke.

'Here the result is much more valid,' said technical director Ross Brawn on Saturday.

Schumacher said: 'It is nice to have the pole and second place after Indy. We feared a little that it would be a one-time affair. We are glad to confirm it.

'A one-two finish (in the race) would be important for the championship, but it is still a long way.'

Schumacher had a practice fright in the morning when a heat shield of his Ferrari caught fire in an incident he later shrugged off as 'a little barbeque.'

The crew was quick with a fire extinguisher and no engine change - which would have dropped him 10 places on the grid - was necessary.

Schumacher then rebounded in qualifying to get his 68th career pole in 1 minute 15.493 seconds for the 4.411-kilometres lap.

Massa had 1:15.510 and Alonso 1:15.785 minutes in what is the home race for his Renault team and tyre partners Michelin.

However, the Spaniard was not disappointed as he was coming off his worst season race in Indianapolis, where he managed only fifth place.

'It was important to be back in the top three. I had a bad weekend in Indy. Now I am happy and want to confirm it tomorrow,' Alonso said, looking ahead at the 70-lap race.

Alonso leads the drivers standings with 88 points ahead of Schumacher (69), who made up six points in the US and wants to gain further ground on Sunday.

Alonso won last year's edition of the Magny-Cours race, but Schumacher - with the pole in hand - now has the chance to raise his own F1 record to eight wins at one venue with first place on Sunday. He has seven wins in Magny-Cours and Canada.

Another German, Nico Rosberg, finished ninth but will lose 10 positions on Sunday's grid due to an engine change.

Pedro de la Rosa came eighth in a McLaren-Mercedes in his first race since replacing Juan Pablo Montoya, who said last weekend he will move to US NASCAR racing next year and as a result for the time being lost his place on the team.