Pole a Big Help in Title Race, Says Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen said his pole position for the United States Grand Prix was a crucial boost to his World Championship chances â€" because it will help him avoid a possible first corner crash.

The title battle is intensifying by the minute at Indianapolis with talk of team tactics coming into play and Finn Raikkonen is looking forward to the chance of blasting into the distance in his McLaren-Mercedes at the start of the race.

"It is a big help for me in the Championship to start from pole position," said Raikkonen. "This has certainly come at a good time because if you are further back, like Michael Schumacher, there is always a chance of an accident."

Raikkonen currently lies seven points behind Championship-leading Ferrari driver Schumacher with Juan Pablo Montoya occupying second place in the title race with a four-points advantage on him.

It is likely that McLaren have decided to run Raikkonen's car light for the first stint of the race in the hope that he can build up an advantage as his title rivals hold each other up in a mid-grid battle.

But the ice-cool Finn, whose distance from Schumacher in the Championship battle has kept him out of the pre-race title tittle-tattle, refused to be moved on his chances in Sunday's race.

"For me it doesn't matter how you feel as long as you are on first row, or in first place," said a beaming Raikkonen. "We had not done much running this weekend because of the weather and had only half an hour yesterday.

"I wasn't happy with the car, but we got it right for this qualifying session and that is what matters. I think we have a good strategy for the race but it is a long race and a lot can happen. Let's see what unfolds."