Schumi grabs pole at Japanese Grand Prix

Sukuza - Defending champion Michael Schumacher drove his Ferrari in the quickest qualifying lap on Saturday to clinch the pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, the final event of the 2001 Formula One season.

It was the 10th pole position of the season for the world champion, who will be bidding for his ninth victory of 2001 on Sunday.

Schumacher edged Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya and younger brother Ralf Schumacher by 0,700 and 0,813 seconds respectively as he set the fastest qualifying time in one minute, 32,484 seconds with an average speed of 228,065 km/h at the 5,85km Suzuka circuit in western Japan.

"This is one of the tougher circuits so I'm really pleased with today's time," said Schumacher. "We did even better than we expected today and Bridgestone has produced a great tire which was particularly good through the esses."

As well as his victory last year, Schumacher also won the Japanese Grand Prix in 1997 and 1995.

Montoya, who won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza last month, will line up next to Schumacher in his Williams BMW at the challenging Suzuka track for the season-ending 53-lap race.

"I think second and third for our team is pretty good," said the 26-year-old Montoya, who is in his rookie season. "I'm pleased with getting the front row on my first visit here but I think a little experience in this place would help quite a lot."

Ralf Schumacher came in third for a second row start along with Rubens Barrichello, who was fourth in his Ferrari in 1:33.323. When asked if he thought anyone could catch his brother on Sunday, Ralf wasn't optimistic. "I don't think so," said Schumacher.

The older Schumacher clinched his fourth season title in August and much of the focus of Sunday's race at Suzuka is on second place in the drivers' standings.

David Coulthard, who is currently in second with a seven-point lead over Barrichello, finished seventh in Saturday's qualifying race, posting a time of 1:33.916.

Mika Hakkinen, who will be taking a year off after the Japanese Grand Prix, drove his McLaren Mercedes to the fifth-best qualifying time while Giancarlo Fisichella was sixth in his Benetton Renault.

Veteran Jean Alesi, who announced his retirement from Formula One on Wednesday in Tokyo and had the fastest time in Friday's practice session, had to settle for 11th place after a time of 1:34.420.

"I enjoyed it out there although I would have rather finished my last race qualifying a little further up the grid," said Alesi. "I feel I got the best I could out of the car, but I just couldn't get past the 1:34.4 time."

There were no accidents in Saturday's race and all 22 drivers qualified for Sunday's race.

F-1 debutant Alex Yoong of Malaysia finished 22nd in 1:38.246 in his Minardi European and will start from the last row along with Jos Verstappen of the Netherlands. - Sapa-AP