JPM claims record for himself

Montoya's best lap of 1m19.525s in the first qualifying session was well inside his pole position record of 1m20.264s from 2002, the previous fastest lap in Formula 1 history, and was not beaten by eventual pole position man Rubens Barrichello.

The Ferrari ace could only manage a time of 1m20.089s because under the current regulations he had to run with race levels of fuel on-board.

But even though Barrichello is likely to go into the record books as the man who completed the fastest ever qualifying lap, Montoya is adamant that he is the one who should be remembered.

"I don't care if it counts or not," he said. "I think I have done it, I think everybody saw it and it was done in qualifying. Last year they said we could lower the record in qualifying from the previous year and that was on the Friday, so I don't understand why it wouldn't be valid."

This year's pole lap record at Monza is especially significant because the new technical regulations due to be introduced next year will dramatically cut the speeds of the cars.

"It would have been nice to have the overall record because I had it before and probably the last year it could be broken is this year," he said. "The rules are going to be changed and it could be 50 years before it is broken again. This is the only track where it can be done."

There is no official word from the FIA yet about whether the fastest lap record will officially be credited to Montoya for his first qualifying effort, or to Barrichello for his pole position lap.

Renault ace Jarno Trulli and world champion Michael Schumacher took joint honours for the fastest straightline speed record during qualifying. Their top speed of 225.63mph through the official speedtrap was just 0.684mph faster than Giancarlo Fisichella.