KEY POINTS:
NUERBURGRING, Germany - Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen took pole position for the European Grand Prix on Sunday (NZ time) in a qualifying session overshadowed by championship leader Lewis Hamilton crashing heavily.
Double world champion Fernando Alonso, Hamilton's McLaren team mate and closest title rival, will join the Finn on the front row with Brazilian Felipe Massa qualifying third for Ferrari.
Hamilton, 12 points clear of Alonso after nine successive podium finishes, will start 10th if the Formula One doctor agrees with the team and gives him the green light to race after a final test on Monday.
"I have to be signed off tomorrow morning, so we have to wait and see. But I feel fine for the race. So fingers crossed," he told reporters on his return to the paddock after hospital checks.
The Briton, who can expect to see his title lead slashed right back on Monday, halted the final session for half an hour when his car ploughed into the tyre wall after leaving the track at around 260kph.
After some anxious moments, the Briton waved and gave a thumbs up sign as he was carried away on a stretcher, with an oxygen mask over his face and a drip inserted.
The Mercedes-powered team blamed a faulty air gun for failing to tighten a wheel nut, with Alonso's car also affected.
When the session resumed, there were just five minutes remaining for drivers to get in a quick lap and decide pole position.
It was Raikkonen who made the most of the moment, lapping in 1:31.450 for the 13th pole of his career and second of the season. Alonso made a costly error and had to settle for second.
"The wait after Hamilton's accident made the third session more complicated," said the Finn, perfectly placed for his third win in a row after victories in France and Britain this month.
"The car has been pretty good all weekend. It's been pretty difficult to get into the front row but I'm in first place so finally it's happened."
Raikkonen is third overall in the standings, 18 points behind Hamilton. His last pole position was in the Australian season-opener in March, a race he also won.
"I completely lost the car in turn five," said Alonso. "I had a big moment there and was lucky enough to come back on the racing line for turn six.
"When I crossed the line and I was second, I was very pleased and very happy. Even more than pole position, because I expected to be fifth or sixth." the Spaniard told reporters.
BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, whose wife gave birth to a son in the early hours of Saturday morning, qualified fourth before flying to Switzerland to be with his family. Polish team mate Robert Kubica was fifth.
- REUTERS
