Motorsport: Fisichella takes Australian GP pole

MELBOURNE - Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, in a Renault, roared to pole position for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.

It will be only the second start from the front of the grid for the 32-year-old Roman's 142-race career, the other being with Benetton in Austria in 1998.

With starting positions decided on aggregate times under a revised qualifying procedure that culminates in a final session just hours before the race, Fisichella was joined on the front row by compatriot Jarno Trulli in a Toyota.

Trulli's performance marked Toyota's first front row start since they entered Formula One in 2002.

Both Italians benefited from rapidly-changing weather on Saturday, when Ferrari's seven times champion Michael Schumacher had his hopes dashed by heavy rain.

The German did not complete a timed lap on Sunday and will start 18th.

Australian Mark Webber revved up the home crowd by putting his Williams on the second row alongside Canada's former champion Jacques Villeneuve in a Sauber.

Red Bull, replacing Jaguar, will make a strong start to their debut race with Briton David Coulthard and Austrian Christian Klien sharing the third row.

The strongly-fancied McLarens of Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya and Finland's Kimi Raikkonen were ninth and 10th respectively.

- REUTERS