Timothy Collings' Qualifying Report - US GP

Michael Schumacher revelled in the adulation of a huge crowd at the United States Grand Prix on Saturday after grabbing pole position for Sunday's race at the sprawling Indianapolis circuit.

The 31-year-old German, two points behind champion Mika Hakkinen in the race for the drivers' title, dominated qualifying in his Ferrari to secure the 30th pole of his career, his second in successive races and his seventh of the season.

"It was fantastic to see so many people here and to get such a good reception," he said.

"I used to come to America and could walk around and nobody knew me. I thought Americans were not at all interested in Formula One, but now I have to change my mind." A sell-out crowd of 250,000 is expected for Sunday's race.

Schumacher lapped in 1:14.266, narrowly ahead of Briton David Coulthard in his McLaren (1:14.392) with Hakkinen third (1:14.428) ahead of Brazilian Rubens Barrichello in the second Ferrari.

"I would have preferred a red car alongside me," joked Schumacher who won the last grand prix at Monza.

At the end of the session the German, winner of the drivers' title in 1994 and 1995 when racing for Benetton, went out into the pitlane to milk the applause from the crowd who where packed into the towering grandstands around the famous track.

Enjoyed Circuit

The Formula One circuit, newly laid in the infield, uses one turn from the Indianapolis Oval and some of the banking, together with most of one straight.

Schumacher and his chief rivals all said they had enjoyed driving on it but the German said Formula One cars did not permit their drivers to be as daring as Indycar drivers.

"Maybe we Europeans are a bit more chicken than you Americans," he joked.

Schumacher's good humour was mirrored by that of the two McLaren men - a marked contrast from the aftermath of the Italian Grand Prix when a volunteer fire marshal was killed after a multiple pile-up on the first lap of the race.

Sunday's race marks Formula One's first return to the United States since 1991 and the first time that Indianapolis has hosted a Formula One world championship event since the 1960s.

Schumacher clocked the fastest lap after only five minutes of the hour-long session, run in damp conditions, trimmed it later and remained unchallenged.

Hakkinen was second fastest for most of the session, ahead of Barrichello, until Coulthard in the second McLaren overhauled him in the final seconds.

The Scot's late surge on to the front row means Hakkinen will start from the second row of the grid - something of an irony after Hakkinen gave Coulthard some 'tow' by slipstreaming him on the straights to improve his time.

"It was a good idea and I dont mind that David moved up to second," said Hakkinen. "I think starting on the second row of the grid will be alright."

After Sunday's race, only the Japanese and Malaysian grands prix next month remain.