Ralf Surprised with First Pole of 2004

Ralf Schumacher said he was surprised after handing Williams their first pole position of the Formula One season on Saturday in Canada.

Ralf's time of 1:12.275 was just 0.066 faster than BAR's Briton Jenson Button, who had looked set for his second pole in eight races until Ralf went out as the last runner in the session.

The German was more than a second faster than Ferrari's six times World Champion Michael Schumacher, chasing his seventh win in eight races, who starts sixth after suffering his worst qualifying performance of the year.

"I must admit we are a bit surprised," said the German, winner in Canada in 2001. "I had a big struggle to start with due to brake problems. Honestly we did not expect to be as strong. Pole position - I didn't expect that.

"It's going to be a difficult one, certainly with Jenson on my tail it's going to be a tough one," added Ralf. "But we'll try our best and maybe I can repeat what I did a couple of years ago."

It was Ralf's fifth pole of his career, his second in succession in Canada and Williams' first since Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya led a front row sweep at the German Grand Prix last August.

Montoya will start the race from fourth place.