Relieved Schumacher Delighted to be Back

Michael Schumacher roared back to form with a vengeance to seize pole position for Ferrari's home Italian Grand Prix and set up a front row duel with title rival Juan Pablo Montoya.

The five-times World Champion timed his moment to perfection, sending the red army of flag-waving Ferrari fans into a frenzy with his first pole since Austria in May - a race he won. It was the 55th pole of his career.

Schumacher, who tops the Championship but has not led a race since June, has a one-point advantage over Williams's Montoya with two races remaining after Monza. His lap of 1:20.963 was slower than Montoya's 2002 pole of 1:20.264.

Montoya went last after leading Friday's qualifying and ended up second quickest, the Colombian deprived of his third Monza pole position in a row by a mere 0.051 of a second.

"I think it was the right time to be back," said the relieved Schumacher, who was congratulated by Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo. "It's a great relief now to have both cars back in the first three. The nature of the sport is that sometimes you have your ups and sometimes you have your downs."

Ferrari's Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, last year's winner in a one-two finish, was third fastest and starts alongside McLaren's Championship contender Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn is two points behind Schumacher in the standings.

"It's a pleasure to be here in front of the tifosi. Two Ferraris in the first two rows. It's going to be one hell of a race," said Barrichello.