Kubica confident about race pace

The Polish driver pipped Ferrari's Felipe Massa by just 0.027 seconds to also give his BMW Sauber team their first pole.

Although it is generally believed that Kubica was carrying a lighter fuel load than his main rivals, the BMW driver is still upbeat about his chances.

"I think in Poland after the second place in Malaysia there were high expectations and I am confident about the race as well," said the first Polish Formula One driver.

"Yesterday we did some long runs and they were pretty okay.

"I think Ferrari were a bit faster, but in the race I am happy. We will try and analyse now the data and prepare as much as possible for tomorrow's race."

Kubica also praised his team for their work after a difficult start to winter testing with the F1.08 car.

"We were all expecting to be strong," said Kubica. "Looking at the winter numbers of wind tunnel and simulations of the car I was expecting it to be a very strong car and in the beginning of the winter we faced some problems and we worked hard and this is an example of never giving up.

"Even if there were problems w managed to be ready in Australia. We have great potential in the car and we will keep working hard."

Kubica, second in the last race in Malaysia, played down the advantage of starting from the clean side of the road.

"This year it is more difficult to get a perfect start, so there is more benefit to have everything perfect rather than one side or another. If you are on the clean side and get it wrong you lose more than if you are perfect from the dirty side."

Teammate Nick Heidfeld qualified in sixth place.