Montoya: Raikkonen Full of Surprises

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya admitted he was surprised by Kimi Raikkonen's pace after the McLaren driver roared to pole position for the United States Grand Prix.

"It's interesting to see Kimi up there, instead of Michael: Kimi is always full of surprises," said the Williams driver, who qualified fourth, three places ahead of his main Championship rival Michael Schumacher.

Montoya's fans, packing Indianapolis's main grandstand with banners and flags, roared in delight as World Champion Schumacher's time flashed up, slower than both Raikkonen and Toyota's Olivier Panis.

They soon had more to celebrate when Fernando Alonso, winner for Renault in Hungary, went out next and pushed the German further down the grid.

"I would really like to please all the South American fans who have come here to support me," said Montoya. "I know I have an excellent race car, we've got good power too and this is important.

"My first sector was OK but I had quite a bit of oversteer in the second and third sectors and this wasn't ideal, as I lost about three tenths there. We could have done a little bit better but that's what we've got and I am still confident we will have a good race ahead of us."

Montoya's teammate Ralf Schumacher lined up behind him on the third row with Spaniard Alonso's Renault, while Michael Schumacher shares the fourth row with Briton David Coulthard, Raikkonen's teammate.

"The very first part of my lap was very weak, as one can see from my sector-time," said Ralf. "Beside this, we had to change the car a lot from the warm-up to qualifying, because of the accident I had in this morning's free practice, when I braked too late and went off track into the barriers, as it caused me to lose quite a lot of valuable track time.

"Still I managed to qualify in a reasonable position so I am fairly happy. I will start tomorrow from the better side of the track so I hope I will have a good start."