Michael Schumacher seized pole position at the Spanish Grand Prix for the third straight year today as Ferrari swept the front row in record-breaking style.
It was the 46th pole of the four-times world champion's career and his third of a Formula One season in which he has won three out of four races.
The German's team mate Rubens Barrichello was fastest for most of an interrupted session but, as at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola two weeks ago, Schumacher saved his best for last.
He trumped the Brazilian with three minutes remaining, clocking a lap of one minute 16.364 seconds - better than the track record of 1:16.525 set by Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in 1997 qualifying.
Schumacher's younger brother Ralf was third fastest for Williams, ahead of Colombian team mate Juan Pablo Montoya in fourth place.
Finland's Kimi Raikkonen in a McLaren shared the third row with the Renault of Briton Jenson Button. The first two rows were the same as at Imola.
The session was halted briefly with 11 minutes and 20 seconds remaining to clear up debris left by Alex Yoong's Minardi.
The Malaysian ran wide on the last corner before the start-finish straight and his car reared up as it went over the kerb, losing the front wing.
The incident was similar to one experienced by his Australian team mate Mark Webber in morning practice, the Minardi also shedding its front wing as it accelerated down on the straight. Yoong at least succeeded in qualifying for the race, something he failed to do in Italy two weeks ago.