F1: Kimi Raikkonen took a surprise pole position for the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim today.
The McLaren driver, on engine partner Mercedes' home ground, looked to have blown his chance when he bounced through the gravel on his final flying lap.
But his previous effort, of one minute 14.070 seconds, proved enough for his first pole position of the season and the ninth of his career.
Raikkonen's unexpected turn of pace left Michael Schumacher in second place, 0.135secs adrift.
But the Ferrari driver had the edge on world championship rival Fernando Alonso, who surprisingly struggled in the Hockenheim heat and will start from a season-worst seventh.
Alonso again starts behind both Ferraris after Felipe Massa took third place, just ahead of a resurgent Jenson Button.
The Honda driver has not scored points for the last five races but looks set to end that drought after taking fourth place, his best qualifying result since Imola in April.
Giancarlo Fisichella is in the unusual position of being the lead Renault in fifth place while Rubens Barrichello underlined Honda's improvement by taking sixth.
Scotland's David Coulthard made it through to the pole position shoot-out but could improve no further and starts 10th in his Red Bull.