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Vietoris takes dominant Spa GP2 pole in the wet

Christian Vietoris claimed pole position by a massive 1.4 seconds in a wet GP2 qualifying session at Spa on Friday

The Racing Engineering driver was the early pacesetter in the session, and he remained in the thick of the fight for pole throughout.

In the final minute of qualifying he knocked Luca Filippi (Coloni) off the top spot, but his pole position could be in doubt as yellow flags were waving at Blanchimont when he set his fastest lap.

Those flags were out for Addax's Charles Pic, who had pulled over and stopped on the exit of the left-hander. The Frenchman ended the session with the third-fastest time.

ART driver Jules Bianchi recovered from a low-speed spin at Les Combes to complete the second row of the grid, while Coloni's Michael Herck continued his good form from practice to take fifth, having been a factor at the front throughout qualifying.

Marcus Ericsson (iSport) and Adam Carroll (Super Nova) were next up, with championship leader Romain Grosjean - who could clinch the title this weekend - only eighth for DAMS as he struggled to get a clear lap when the track improved in the second half of the session.

He is still ahead of his main title challenger though, as Giedo van der Garde (Addax) could only manage 11th on the grid. If Grosjean can extend his points lead over the Dutchman by two points on Saturday, he will seal the title.

Of 2011's usual frontrunners, Sam Bird had the worst session. The iSport driver had a similar spin to Bianchi's at Les Combes, but unlike the Frenchman he could not avoid contact with the barrier and will start 22nd.

Pos  Driver               Team                Time       Gap
 1.  Christian Vietoris   Racing Engineering  2m18.345s
 2.  Luca Filippi         Coloni              2m19.779s  + 1.434s
 3.  Charles Pic          Addax               2m20.056s  + 1.711s
 4.  Jules Bianchi        ART                 2m20.211s  + 1.866s
 5.  Michael Herck        Coloni              2m20.748s  + 2.403s
 6.  Marcus Ericsson      iSport              2m20.858s  + 2.513s
 7.  Adam Carroll         Super Nova          2m21.491s  + 3.146s
 8.  Romain Grosjean      DAMS                2m21.715s  + 3.370s
 9.  Johnny Cecotto       Ocean               2m21.753s  + 3.408s
10.  Esteban Gutierrez    ART                 2m21.877s  + 3.532s
11.  Giedo van der Garde  Addax               2m21.956s  + 3.611s
12.  Brendon Hartley      Ocean               2m22.145s  + 3.800s
13.  Dani Clos            Racing Engineering  2m22.254s  + 3.909s
14.  Fairuz Fauzy         Super Nova          2m22.299s  + 3.954s
15.  Mikhail Aleshin      Carlin              2m22.326s  + 3.981s
16.  Josef Kral           Arden               2m22.346s  + 4.001s
17.  Max Chilton          Carlin              2m22.573s  + 4.228s
18.  Fabio Leimer         Rapax               2m22.623s  + 4.278s
19.  Rodolfo Gonzalez     Trident             2m22.655s  + 4.310s
20.  Luiz Razia           AirAsia             2m22.895s  + 4.550s
21.  Davide Valsecchi     AirAsia             2m23.364s  + 5.019s
22.  Sam Bird             iSport              2m23.365s  + 5.020s
23.  Jolyon Palmer        Arden               2m23.495s  + 5.150s
24.  Pal Varhaug          DAMS                2m23.830s  + 5.485s
25.  Stefano Coletti      Trident             2m24.272s  + 5.927s
26.  Julian Leal          Rapax               2m24.832s  + 6.487s

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