Sato on pole at Spa

Sato's Carlin Motorsport Dallara-Mugen Honda was quickest in the opening session, but his advantage was whittled away by several challengers during the second half-hour to a mere 0.1s.

Then Sato completed what he described as "a perfect lap" to leave his opposition flabbergasted.

"There were no mistakes at all and the timing was perfect," he smiled. "It was my second hot lap on new tyres, which is the ideal time to do it."

Second on the grid is French championship interloper Tiago Monteiro, the Portuguese following up the form which has seen him win the last two races at Albi and Le Mans in his ASM Dallara-Renault.

Championship leader Antonio Pizzonia lies third. The Brazilian needs only an eighth place finish to clinch the title tomorrow, even if major rival Tomas Scheckter wins. But with the South African down in ninth on the grid the crown is as good as on the Amazonian's head.

Scheckter complained of traffic, but then added: "It's the same story for everyone."

Nicolas Kiesa did a good job to take fourth after crashing in the opening qualifying session. He pipped Indian Narain Karthikeyan and Sato's Carlin team-mate Ben Collins. The last-named was second in the opening period, but lost his way later on after a scare when he nearly brushed the wall at the Bus Stop chicane.


Takuma Sato, 2m15.019s
Tiago Monteiro, 2m15.852s
Antonio Pizzonia, 2m15.925s
Nicolas Kiesa, 2m15.972s
Narain Karthikeyan, 2m16.004s
Ben Collins, 2m16.050s
Milos Pavlovic, 2m16.053s
Gianmaria Bruni, 2m16.375s
Tomas Scheckter, 2m16.564s
Matt Davies, 2m16.568s