Juan Pablo Montoya swept to pole position for tomorrow's Brazilian Grand Prix as he turned the tables on Ferrari's world champion Michael Schumacher.
The Colombian, leader in Brazil last season before being shunted out of the race, clocked a flying lap of one minute 13.114 seconds today to reverse the starting positions from the last race in Malaysia.
It was the fourth pole of his career.
Schumacher, in the new Ferrari F2002, took his place alongside Montoya in 1:13.241.
At Sepang it was Schumacher who took pole ahead of Montoya, both drivers banging into each other as they fought for the lead going into the first corner.
The Interlagos grid, with the two rivals lining up alongside each other again, set the scene for more drama.
Michael's younger brother Ralf, who led Montoya in a Williams one-two in Malaysia, had looked likely to secure the second pole of his career but had to make do with a second row start as third fastest in 1:13.328.
McLaren's David Coulthard, winner in Brazil last year, was fourth quickest, with team mate Kimi Raikkonen of Finland fifth fastest.
The Renaults of Italian Jarno Trulli and Briton Jenson Button followed in sixth and seventh respectively, ahead of local hope Rubens Barrichello.
Barrichello's hopes of a front row slot effectively vanished in the morning when he drove through a red light at the end of the pit lane in free practice.