Montanari takes Monaco pole

Montanari, who won last year's Monaco race, lapped his Prema-run car in 1:25.390 in the opening session, which was split according to odd and even numbered championship positions. The split sessions meant traffic was much less of a problem, with 15 cars in each.

Montanari's old team, Draco, will start alongside him with Pastor Maldonado, who had topped free practice yesterday.

His final flying lap of 1:25.840 was the best part of a second quicker than anyone else could manage in the second session.

Jaap van Lagen marked a sensational debut with the Comtec team with third fastest time overall, just a couple of tenths shy of Montanari.

Celso Miguez Pereira was fourth fastest, with James Rossiter, who spun at Rascasse, and Greg Franchi next up.

The second session had to be stopped twice, first for Eric Salignon's spin at the Swimming Pool, which briefly blocked the track, and Ryo Fukuda's massive accident on the approach to Massenet.

The Japanese clipped the inside Armco as he turned in at the top of the hill, which sent him headfirst into the barriers. He was unhurt, except for sore knees, but his car was wrecked.