Highlights

Schumacher gains provisional pole position for Monaco Grand Prix

(AP)
Updated: 2006-05-27 21:59

MONTE CARLO, Monaco?- Michael Schumacher gained a provisional pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix Saturday in a controversial qualifying session.

After setting the fastest lap of 1 minute, 13.898 seconds early in the final section of qualifying, Schumacher looked like he lost control of his Ferrari on his final lap and stalled out on the track on the final turn.

World champion Fernando Alonso of Renault _ who had been fastest in two of the three practice sessions _ was beating Schumacher's time through the first two sections but had to slow to avoid Schumacher and ended second with 1:13.962.

Immediately after the session ended, it was announced that the stewards were investigating the incident and will make their report known later.

Third was Mark Webber in a Williams, 1:14.082.

Out of the six races this season, Alonso has won three, Schumacher two, and Alonso's teammate Giancarlo Fisichella one.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, hoping to become the first repeat winner in more than 10 years here, was in fourth. Raikkonen had pole position last year in 1:13.644.

Ferrari suffered a blow when Felipe Massa crashed out on his first lap, putting him last on the starting grid.

Massa also crashed out in qualifying at Malaysia. He has finished in the top four in his last three races.

Jenson Button of Honda, still looking first his first victory, was a casualty of the second 15-minute session, eliminated after finishing in the last six.

Button had a pole position at the Australian GP and started in the top three in the first four races of the season.

Alonso leads the overall standings with 54 points, while second-place Schumacher has 39. The pair have taken the top two places in the last three races.

Schumacher, who has not won at Monte Carlo since 2001, is one victory short of equaling the late Ayrton Senna's record here.