Schumacher flies to pole in Malaysia<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse
\nSepang, Malaysia<\/p>\n
World champion Michael Schumacher scorched to the 57th pole
\nposition of his career here on Saturday with a dominant
\nqualifying performance for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Six-time title winner Schumacher, who won the season-opening
\nAustralian Grand Prix two weeks ago, produced the perfect lap
\ntime around the Sepang circuit to finish more than half-a-second
\nahead of Mark Webber.<\/p>\n
Schumacher, who completed a clean sweep in Australia with
\npole, fastest lap and victory, was untroubled by the 37 degree
\nCelsius (99 degree Fahrenheit) heat and his faultless performance
\nin his Ferrari sent an ominous warning to his rivals.<\/p>\n
\"We looked quicker on paper, it was a mindblowing lap I have
\nto say, everything perfect and spot on,\" said Schumacher.<\/p>\n
\"We worked very well with the car. We were looking in
\ndifficulty yesterday but managed to work the car very well and
\nput it back on the road.<\/p>\n
\"I felt a lot more grip was available in the second session.
\nYou adapt to the temperatures we saw in that moment and we could
\nwork the car spot on for that final lap.\"<\/p>\n
Australian Webber produced the performance of the day to
\nfinish second quickest for Jaguar ahead of Ferrari's Rubens
\nBarrichello.<\/p>\n
Barrichello said: \"Michael put in a really good lap but my lap
\nwas good as well.<\/p>\n
\"I am quite happy, not with the gap to Michael but that we
\nworked seriously hard on the race and I am hoping that everything
\ncomes to me for the race.\"<\/p>\n
Williams pair Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher were
\nfourth and seventh respectively with McLaren driver Kimi
\nRaikkonen and Jenson Button splitting them in fifth and sixth.<\/p>\n
Renault's Jarno Trulli, McLaren's David Coulthard and Toyota
\ndriver Cristiano Da Matta completed the top 10.<\/p>\n
Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who had led a Renault one-two in
\nSaturday's first qualifying session, slid off track and into the
\ngravel as the last man on track.<\/p>\n
Montoya, the first of the leading names on track, set the pace
\nwith a lap time of one minute 34.054 secs for the Williams team.<\/p>\n
His team-mate Ralf Schumacher was one-tenth slower, before BAR
\ndriver Jenson Button split the pair in the timesheets after being
\nunable to hold onto the quickest time he held after two sectors.<\/p>\n
McLaren's Coulthard slotted in behind the top trio after being
\nunable to find his best, but Ferrari driver Barrichello produced
\nan immaculate lap to go 0.298 seconds faster than Montoya and
\ntake provisional pole.<\/p>\n
The impressive Webber continued his rise to prominence as he
\nwent quicker than Barrichello by 0.041 seconds to move into top
\nspot.<\/p>\n
World champion Schumacher, however, produced an immediate
\nresponse to the threat from Jaguar driver Webber as he posted a
\nlap time more than six-tenths of a second faster than the
\nAustralian.<\/p>\n
Webber said afterwards: \"I'm very surprised. The guys have
\ndone a great job for me. We are happy going into the race
\ntomorrow.<\/p>\n
\"I would be very pleased if we can be second fastest all race
\nbut we are really looking for some decent points.<\/p>\n
\"I will try to get away aggressively and try to finish the
\nrace. Until I see the chequered flag I will not be happy.\"<\/p>\n
Raikkonen, who won his first Grand Prix in Malaysia last year,
\ncrossed the line for fifth place on the grid, while Renault's
\nTrulli was disappointed as he slotted into eighth place.<\/p>\n
Alonso, the last man on track and who earned pole position at
\nSepang 12 months ago, slid off into the gravel as he attempted to
\ntopple Schumacher and he will begin the race from the back row of
\nthe grid.<\/p>",
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