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Schumacher heads Ferrari front row

Michael Schumacher secured pole position for Sunday's French Grand Prix with a consistent, fast and dominant demonstration of his enduring skills in Saturday's qualifying session as Ferrari delivered a one-two to fill the front row of the grid

The 37-year-old German seven-time champion was the only man to clock times beneath the 1:16 barrier in all three sections of the qualifying hour on his way to a record-increasing 68th pole of his extraordinary career.

His Ferrari teammate Brazilian Felipe Massa was second fastest, clinching that spot after clocking an improved lap in the final seconds to outpace defending world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso in his Renault. Alonso had clocked a second-best time just as the flag fell, but Massa was already on track with a lap to complete.

Schumacher's best lap in the final session was 1:15.493.

Alonso wound up third with Italian Jarno Trulli fourth for Toyota, German Ralf Schumacher fifth in the second Toyota and Finland's Kimi Raikkonen sixth in his McLaren Mercedes-Benz. Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was seventh for Renault, Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa eighth in the second McLaren, German Nico Rosberg ninth for Williams and Briton David Coulthard tenth for Red Bull.

The air temperature was 35 and the track temperature 54 during the session, hot conditions that left spectators breathing heavily even at the sight of the cars and their drivers lapping the circuit.

Given the heat and humidity, it was no surprise that several men were wilting as the opening eliminatory part of the session unfolded.

The most spectacular and surprising departure was that of Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, who was fastest in the morning free session in his BMW Sauber. He was in good company as Briton Jenson Button was also condemned to an early shower after clocking only the 19th fastest time in his Honda.

Out with them went Japan's Takuma Sato in his Super Aguri, Franck Montagny of France, his teammate, Portugal's Tiago Monteiro, in a Midland, and Vitantonio Liuzzi in his Scuderia Toro Rosso Cosworth.

The second mini-session saw the departures of another clutch of drivers including Dutchman Christijan Albers of Midland, American Scott Speed in a Toro Rosso Cosworth, Brazilian Rubens Barrichello in his Honda, Austrian Christian Klien in a Red Bull and German Nick Heidfeld and Australian Mark Webber.

The start of the third mini-session saw Alonso and Schumacher lining up as if on a real racing grid, both determined to gain the psychological advantage as if it was a true contest, not just a qualifying session.

This was followed by a virtual racing start as Alonso pulled away when the lights signaled 'start' and as his Renault accelerated so Schumacher began his high-speed pursuit, a chase that saw him cut in and pass his title rival at the Adelaide hairpin under heavy braking.

The circuit commentators were so excited they began shrieking aloud 'extraordinaire' while the two leading drivers of the day fought for track space. It was a dramatic way to demonstrated the 100th anniversary of the French Grand Prix and ensured the spectators baking in the hot sunshine enjoyed a thrilling spectacle.

French GP qualifying breakdown Session 1 Session 2 Session 3
Pos Driver Team   Pos Time Lap Pos Time Lap Pos Time Lap
1. M.Schumacher Ferrari B 2. 1:15.865 4 1. 1:15.111 3 1. 1:15.493 12
2. Massa Ferrari B 5. 1:16.277 3 3. 1:15.679 3 2. 1:15.510 12
3. Alonso Renault M 6. 1:16.328 3 4. 1:15.706 3 3. 1:15.785 12
4. Trulli Toyota B 1. 1:15.550 6 6. 1:15.776 3 4. 1:16.036 12
5. R.Schumacher Toyota B 3. 1:15.949 6 2. 1:15.625 3 5. 1:16.091 12
6. Raikkonen McLaren M 4. 1:16.154 6 5. 1:15.742 3 6. 1:16.281 11
7. Fisichella Renault M 12. 1:16.825 3 7. 1:15.901 3 7. 1:16.345 12
8. de la Rosa McLaren M 10. 1:16.679 5 8. 1:15.902 6 8. 1:16.632 12
9. Rosberg Williams B 9. 1:16.534 6 9. 1:15.926 6 9. 1:18.272 12
10. Coulthard Red Bull M 7. 1:16.350 6 10. 1:15.974 6 10. 1:18.663 12
11. Webber Williams B 8. 1:16.531 6 11. 1:16.129 6      
12. Heidfeld BMW M 11. 1:16.686 7 12. 1:16.294 6      
13. Klien Red Bull M 13. 1:16.921 6 13. 1:16.433 6      
14. Barrichello Honda M 15. 1:17.022 6 14. 1:17.027 6      
15. Speed Toro Rosso M 16. 1:17.117 9 15. 1:17.063 8      
16. Albers Midland B 14. 1:16.962 8 16. 1:17.105 3      
17. Liuzzi Toro Rosso M 17. 1:17.164 8            
18. Villeneuve BMW M 18. 1:17.304 3            
19. Button Honda M 19. 1:17.495 7            
20. Monteiro Midland B 20. 1:17.589 7            
21. Montagny Super Aguri B 21. 1:18.637 6            
22. Sato Super Aguri B 22. 1:18.845 6            

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