Formula One news

Raikkonen steals last gasp pole from Alonso

Kimi Raikkonen stole a last gasp pole position from a flying Fernando Alonso in the final moments of qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix. The result, nevertheless gave thousands of Alonso's home fans something to celebrate for the first time this season. Felipe Massa ended up third.

The circuit was very slippery at the start of qualifying with those going out early struggling for grip, particularly in the final sector. At the end of it though Kimi Raikkonen led Trulli and Alonso while Coulthard, Vettel, Fisichella, Sutil, Davidson and Sato all dropped out.

The second qualifying was a very close run event with less than 0.7s separating the six cars that were knocked out: Barrichello, Nakajima, Button, Glock, Rosberg and Bourdais. 

Alonso celebrates front row

Felipe Massa set the early pace in final qualifying but it all came down to the closing moments as Alonso bumped the Brazilian down a place and then Raikkonen pulled one out of the bag when it really counted to steal pole by less than 0.1s.

Robert Kubica held on for a strong fourth for BMW, 0.2s off Raikkonen's pace while Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen got pushed down to fifth and sixth. Mark Webber confirmed Red Bull's pace in seventh ahead of Trulli, Heidfeld and Piquet.

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