Heidfeld: It Couldn't be Any Better

Going out second last in blistering heat at his home track, Heidfeld clocked 1:30.081 to edge out McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen by 0.116 seconds.

It was the first pole position for BMW-powered Williams since Ralf Schumacher's at the Canadian Grand Prix last June.

"It's fantastic," said Heidfeld, who was second in Monaco last week. "The first time I've had pole position in Formula One and at my home race at the Nurburgring, it couldn't be better.

"After Monaco, I thought it would be more difficult here. I thought we would probably be on the second row."

Heidfeld was just delighted to start from the front of the grid for the first time after five years in Formula One.

"You can't wish for more than pole position, whatever strategy you are on, and so we are happy," he said.

Teammate Mark Webber finished down in third place.

Qualifying for the seventh round of the 19-race Championship was held over a single session because of widespread dissatisfaction with the format in the previous six rounds, when there was a second session on the morning of the race.