By Elmar Dreher May 6, 2006, 16:48 GMT
Nuerburg, Germany - Title holder Fernando Alonso beat former world champion Michael Schumacher for the pole position at the European Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday, setting the stage for what could another thrilling race on Sunday.
Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Renault F1 team in action during the qualifying session for the Grand Prix of Europe at the Nuerburgring circuit, Germany, Saturday 06 May 2006. Alonso clocked the fastest time in the qualifying. EPA/JENS BUETTNER
'It should be very interesting tomorrow,' said the Ferrari star Schumacher, with Alonso also anticipating 'an interesting race' between the two current best drivers in the sport.
The Renault driver Alonso clocked 1 minute 29.819 seconds in the closing stages of the final qualifying round on the 5.148-kilometres Nuerburgring course.
It was the first pole of the season and the 10th overall for the Spaniard who won the Nuerburgring race last season.
Schumacher, a four-time winner on German home ground at the Nuerburgring, had 1:30.028 to make the first row on the grid as well. Felipe Massa was third in 1:30.407 minutes in the second Ferrari.
Alonso leads the championship with 36 points from Schumacher (21) and McLaren-Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen (18).
Schumacher beat Alonso for his first season victory two weeks ago at the Imola race. His qualifying result Saturday seemed to confirm that Ferrari are closing in on Renault after a poor 2005 campaign and a slow start into the current season.
''We are in the first row. We have a good package. We have been strong all week,' said Schumacher.
But the German also said that 'It is no surprise that Renault are first again.'
Alonso has finished first in two of the four 2006 races and second in the other two for his big championship lead which he wants to keep Sunday.
'I hope to fight for victory. You never know what will happen but we are competitive. It wasn't easy to find the right balance here. But the team did a good job,' he said.
Alonso won last year's race when Raikkonen had to retire with a tyre problem in leading position in the final lap.
Now the Finn hopes to do better this and will enter the race from fifth place on the grid from a qualifying time of 1:30.933 minutes.
Not so happy was the second Renault driver, Giancarlo Fisichella, who didn't make the final qualifying round because he got stuck behind Jacques Villeneuve and will have to start from 11th place.
Williams was even worse off, with 10th place for Mark Webber and 12th for Nico Rosberg worth nothing as both cars required new engines, dropping the two to the end of the starting grid.
There was some confusion towards the end of the first qualifying round when the timing computer failed and it took officials several minutes to reboot the system.
Several drivers were also affected when a red flag signal was shown for several seconds indicating an immediate stop of the session. The signal was accidently shown.
Sunday's race is over 60 laps for 308.836 kilometres.
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