Apr 26, 2008, 14:26 GMT
Barcelona - Defending champion Kimi Raikkonen in a Ferrari on Saturday clinched pole position for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari reacts after he clocked the fastest time in the Qualifying session for the Grand Prix of Spain at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona, Spain, 26 April 2008. The Grand Prix of Spain will take place here on 27 April. EPA/GERO BRELOER
The Finn, who leads the drivers' standings with 19 points from BMW-Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, who has 16, posted a time of one minute 21.813 seconds for his 15th career pole position.
Local hero Fernando Alonso in a Renault stunned the favourites to take second place on the grid, preventing a Ferrari one-two as the winner of the last race in Bahrain three weeks ago, Felipe Massa, took third place.
Alonso, whose best place finish this season has been a fourth place in Australia in the season-opener, said that as far as he was concerned, the job was almost already completed.
'We did not expect a front row grid position for this weekend and not even for the whole season. The job is nearly done, as we did not expect this.
'I have seen a huge improvement with the car and hopefully that will be seen in the race also.'
The Spaniard was agonizingly close to the pole, as he had the fastest time with just one driver behind him.
'I was very very excited when I crossed the line and I knew that only Kimi was behind me and I knew that worst case scenario I would be in the front row.'
BMW's Robert Kubica had the fourth-fastest time, ahead of the duo Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen.
McLaren team principal Ron Dennis said he was confident that his team would do well in the race. 'We have a very good race strategy and I am sure we will be competitive.'
Raikkonen, who is called the Ice Man and is said to show very little emotion, said he was not concerned about the showing of the McLarens.
'I don't even know where they finished up. If we get a clean start we can see what we can do. But for sure, pole is the best place to start a race and it should give us a good chance.'
Australian Mark Webber in a Red Bull surprised in seventh place on the grid, while Jarno Trulli in a Toyota is in the fourth row on the grid in eighth.
The final two places in the top ten go to Heidfeld, who is believed to have gone into the final qualifying round with a full tank of petrol and Nelson Piquet junior in the second Renault.
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