Raikkonen grabs pole for Italian Grand Prix from Schumacher

By Claas Hennig Sep 9, 2006, 15:34 GMT

Finnish Kimi Raikkonen of McLaren Mercedes grimaces in his car during a training session at the race track in Monza, Italy, Saturday, 09 September 2006. The Formula One Grand Prix of Italy will take place on 10 September. EPA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

Monza, Italy - Kimi Raikkonen in a McLaren-Mercedes Saturday grabbed pole position for Sunday's Italian Grand Prix, pipping Michael Schumacher in what could be the German's final qualifying round at Monza.

The Finn clocked 1 minute 21.484 seconds for the 5.793-kilometre circuit to finish just two thousands of a second ahead of Schumacher (1:21.486) in a Ferrari to earn his third pole of the season.

'It was very close. The car has been pretty good all weekend,' said Raikkonen afterwards. 'I think we have a good race car also.'

Nick Heidfeld in a BMW Sauber will start from third after registering a time 0.169 seconds slower than Raikkonen in what the German called his 'best qualifying lap of the season'.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who took his maiden pole at the Turkish GP he won a fortnight ago, took fourth, 0.220 seconds adrift.

Overall leader Fernando Alonso of Spain in a Renault suffered a puncture in the final qualifying session and eventually had to be content with fifth place, 0.345 seconds behind Raikkonen.

Jenson Button will start from sixth in a Honda, followed by Robert Kubica in the second BMW and Pedro de la Rosa of McLaren. Honda's Rubens Barrichello and Giancarlo Fisichella of Renault make up the top 10.

'It's a comfortable position to be in but it would have been nice to be on pole for our home grand prix,' said Schumacher, adding that he was delighted to be starting ahead of championship rival Alonso.

'It's better than having him beside or in front of me,' said the seven-time world champion.

Alonso, the defending champion, goes into Sunday's race, the 15th of 18 of the season, with a 12-point lead over Schumacher in the overall standings.

Following Sunday's race, Schumacher is expected to announce his retirement Formula One at the end of the season.