Hamilton grabs second career pole in Indianapolis

By Volker Gundrum Jun 16, 2007, 21:33 GMT

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton (R) of McLaren Mercedes celebrates his pole position with a team member after the Qualifying Session at the Indianapolis race track, 16 June 2007 in Indianapolis, USA. Hamilton clocked the fastest time ahead of Alonso and Massa. The USA F1 Grand Prix will take place here on Sunday 17 June. EPA/KERIM OKTEN

Indianapolis, Indiana - Formula One racing sensation Lewis Hamilton on Saturday grabbed his second career pole position with the fastest time in qualifying for Sunday's US Grand Prix.

The British rookie driver needed a time of one minute 12.385 seconds for the 4.193 kilometres Indianapolis Speedway track and will start alongside McLaren-Mercedes team-mate Fernando Alonso, who was .115 seconds slower.

In a carbon copy of the top five places in the drivers' standing, which Hamilton leads with 48 points from Alonso, the two Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen finished third and fourth and will start from the second row.

BMW-Sauber's Nick Heidfeld had the fifth-fastest time, while Heikki Kovalainen in a Renault was one place behind him.

Hamilton, who achieved his maiden victory in last week's Canadian Grand Prix and has ended each of the six season races with a podium finish, said that although he was happy to have achieved pole, there was still a long way to go.

'Of course starting from pole is great, but the race is really the important thing. There is still a long way to go in the season and everything is very open.'

Before the beginning of the week the 22-year-old had never driven on the track and he told reporters that he needed some time to get used to it. 'I spent some time just getting used to the circuit. The really tricky bit is in the midsection as it's very tight and twisty.'

He said he was confident that the team would do well in the race. 'We have a pretty good idea of where we are going, and it looks like we should be competitive.'

German stand-in driver Sebastian Vettel, who took the place of Robert Kubica after the BMW-Sauber driver was barred from competing by FIA medical officers, became only the second driver behind Hamilton to make it into the qualifying top ten at his first attempt.

The 19-year-old, who will on Sunday become the fifth-youngest driver to compete in a Grand Prix, will start from seventh place on the grid.

Vettel said that he was confident that he would be relaxed in Sunday's race. 'I think the worst was last night when I was very nervous, but now that I have completed the qualifying, I think I will be fine.

Hamilton has 48 points ahead of the seventh race of the season, while Alonso is eight points behind. Ferrari's Massa (33 points) and Raikkonen (27) are third and fourth.