Motor Sport:Brazilian Rubens Barrichello boosted his Formula One title chances and rolled back the years at his home grand prix last night by seizing his first pole position since 2004.
With Brawn team mate and championship leader Jenson Button qualifying in 14th place, the 37-year-old veteran gave himself a real chance of taking the battle down to the wire in Abu Dhabi.
Button has a 14 point advantage with two races remaining but, in an astonishing season that has seen one twist after another, nothing can be taken for granted.
With torrential rain creating atrocious conditions and repeated delays, Barrichello kept calm and seized his chance.
Team principal Ross Brawn, who was technical director at Ferrari when Barrichello was last on pole for that team at Interlagos, purred in appreciation of the Brazilian's performance while also feeling for Button.
"A fantastic job by Rubens, a really great job," Brawn told reporters. "It was easy to overlook Rubens' achievements at Ferrari because of course Michael (Schumacher) was there. But I think he's certainly driving as well, maybe even better.
"Maybe the opportunity of not having Michael there has opened him up a little bit. He's certainly not driving worse and it's arguable he's driving better, it's true."