Indianapolis, Sept 28: Title contender Kimi Raikkonen blasted to pole position for Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix and Ferrari's Formula One leader Michael Schumacher had a qualifying nightmare.
The McLaren driver, third overall and seven points behind Schumacher with just Japan to come, seized a crucial advantage that could slot him right back in the thick of the closest championship showdown in years. Schumacher, who can still clinch a record sixth crown on Sunday, qualified seventh with both his title rivals ahead of him in what looked like a major setback for his hopes. "It's not a disaster," said the German, playing down a position that ranked among his worst of the season. "If you look at the number it is not ideal but when you look at the bigger picture it's reasonable."

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, Schumacher's closest rival three points behind the German in the three-way duel, was fourth fastest for Williams.


"We just got it right for qualifying," said Raikkonen, who qualified fourth and behind his rivals in Italy two weeks ago. "I had a normal good lap and it was enough.”


It was Raikkonen's second career pole, following the Nuerburgring in June, and probably the most impressive coming against a backdrop of intense pressure on the 23-year-old with the championship at stake. Raikkonen will share the front row with Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello, winner last year in a controversial one-two finish when his team mate slowed at the line after leading until then.


Montoya starts next to Olivier Panis in a Toyota, the Frenchman's best qualifying of the season. Montoya's team mate Ralf Schumacher lined up behind him on the third row with Spaniard Fernando Alonso's Renault, while Michael Schumacher shares the fourth row with Briton David Coulthard, Raikkonen's team mate.


Montoya's fans, packing the main grandstand with banners and flags, roared in delight as Schumacher's time flashed up, slower than both Raikkonen and Panis. They soon had more to celebrate when Alonso, winner for Renault in Hungary, went out next and pushed the German further down the grid.


Sunday's race at Indianapolis will be the first time Schumacher has not started on pole at the circuit, which first hosted a grand prix in 2000.


Provisional grid positions for Sunday's U.S. Formula One Grand Prix after Saturday's final qualifying: 1. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:11.670 2. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1:11.794 3. Olivier Panis (France) Toyota 1:11.920 4. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:11.948 5. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:12.078 6. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:12.087 7. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:12.194 8. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:12.297 9. Cristiano da Matta (Brazil) Toyota 1:12.326 10. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:12.566 11. Jenson Button (Britain) BAR 1:12.695 12. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:13.050 13. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:13.083 14. Mark Webber (Australia) Jaguar 1:13.269 15. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber 1:13.447 16. Justin Wilson (Britain) Jaguar 1:13.585 17. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1:13.798 18. Ralph Firman (Britain) Jordan 1:14.027 19. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Minardi 1:15.360 20. Nicolas Kiesa (Denmark) Minardi 1:15.644


Bureau Report