Five-time world champion Michael Schumacher took pole position today for the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix, ahead of Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello.
In warm Autumn sunshine, the 33-year-old German ace secured his seventh pole of the season and the 50th of his career, clocking one minute 31.317 seconds around the twisty 5.821-kilometre (3.617-mile) Suzuka circuit.
Only the late Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna has claimed more pole positions with 65.
Barrichello timed 1:31.749 in the last of his 12 laps during the one-hour qualifying session to secure second spot on the grid.
Should the Ferrari duo repeat their performance tomorrow and record their 15th podium one-two, they will break the record for Formula One's most successful partnership, which they currently share with McLaren's legendary 1988-89 duo of Senna and Alain Prost.
McLaren's David Coulthard clinched the third spot with 1:32.088, ahead of teammate Kimi Raikkonen.
Ralf Schumacher in a Williams will start in fourth spot, while Juan Carlos Montoya, also in a Williams, secured fifth place.
The one-hour qualifying session was suspended for 75 minutes after Allan McNish had a nasty high-speed crash with just over 24 minutes left on the clock.
Exiting a corner, the Scotsman lost control of his Toyota and skidded through the sand trap before smashing into the the safety barrier in mid air.
The back of his car hit first, causing the upper section of the barrier to buckle and sending debris flying in all directions.
He quickly got out of his car and after a brief recovery period on the bank waved to the crowd before being whisked away to the medical centre for a precautionary check-up.
Syd Watkins, a doctor for motorsport's governing body, the FIA, said McNish was shaken up but was in good spirits.
"He's pretty good. He hurt his knee a bit and his neck a bit but he's okay."
Watkins said the fact that he was able to walk free from the wreckage was a "tribute to the car, the designers and the engineers".
The doctor said more examinations were needed to determine if McNish would be able to participate in Sunday's race.
AFP