Schumacher takes first
German Grand Prix pole
Michael Schumacher claimed the first German Grand Prix pole position of his Formula One career on Saturday and set up a family front row with brother Ralf.
Ferrari's world champion, who clinched a record-equalling fifth title with his eighth victory of the season in France last weekend, also ended Juan Pablo Montoya's run of five successive poles.
The German has never won his home race in a Ferrari or triumphed at Hockenheim since 1995, when he was at Benetton. He had never been fastest in qualifying there either in a career of 47 poles.
But, after pushing Ralf's Williams off the top spot in the dying seconds of an electrifying session, he told his jubilant army of fans to get ready to crank up the celebrations on Sunday afternoon.
Another win, on a new circuit, would be Schumacher's ninth in 12 races -- equalling the Formula One record he already holds with Briton Nigel Mansell.
"I've never been on pole here and neither have I won for Ferrari," said the champion, after beating Ralf's Williams by 0.181 seconds for his fourth pole of 2002.
"This is an ideal result that I hope I can transform into a victory tomorrow, that's the target."
Schumacher's final run gave him his first pole since Spain in April and ended the reign of qualifying king Montoya, Ralf's team mate.
The Colombian drifted wide into the dirt on his first attempt at a fast lap and could only manage the fourth fastest time. He will start on the second row alongside Schumacher's Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello.
ANXIOUS MOMENT
"After having achieved five poles in a row I can cope with starting from the second row," said Montoya. "For the race I am quite confident."
The third row sees the McLaren of Finland's Kimi Raikkonen, leader in France until the last five laps, line up with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella bringing Jordan their highest start of the year.
Schumacher praised the flag-waving home fans, who roared him on with a blast of klaxons from the moment the red Ferrari nosed out of the garage.
Yet, with Montoya still out on the track, he had not known whether to celebrate with them or not.
"You see and feel the excitement in the faces of the fans, it is something very special to come into the stadium and celebrate with them, but I had mixed feelings whether to wave or not," he said.
"It has happened before that you feel secure and then someone bounces your time."
LOOKED LIKELY
Ralf, winner at the old Hockenheim circuit last year, had looked likely to claim only the second pole of his career with a run of 1:14.570 but had to settle for his second front row start of the season.
"It's the best that can happen," he said of the all- Schumacher front row.
"It definitely is hopeful here," he added, recalling his 2001 victory from second place on the grid.
"The whole weekend has been very good for me, certainly I would have loved to be on pole but I hope to swap it around tomorrow," he added.
France's Olivier Panis, whose job at British American Racing (BAR) is in danger after the team signed Briton Jenson Button, was seventh fastest while Button was outqualified by Italian Renault team mate Jarno Trulli.
Both Arrows qualified after controversially missing out in France but Malaysian Alex Yoong, in a Minardi, failed to qualify for the third time this season.
