Kimi on pole

Finnish McLaren-Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen steers his car on the Silverstone racetrack during the fourth free practice session. - AFP

SILVERSTONE - Kimi Raikkonen of resurgent McLaren Mercedes took the pole position for the British Grand Prix after turning the fastest time in Saturday's qualifying.

Raikkonen clocked 1 minute, 18.233 seconds, on the 5.141-kilometre (3.195-mile) Silverstone circuit. It was his third career pole position and first of the season. His last pole was the 2003 US Grand Prix.

Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello was second in 1:18.305. Barrichello had the pole position and claimed victory in last year's British GP.

Raikkonen also had the quickest times in three of the four practice sessions including both on Saturday.

The Finn finished just two points behind Schumacher in last year's final standings, but this season has been abysmal. He scored only one point in the first seven races, but has scored points in the last three. He has gotten progressively quicker since McLaren introduced its new model MP4-19B a week ago in the French Grand Prix.

Jenson Button of BAR-Honda qualified third in 1:18.580.

He is currently the best of the rest of the non-Ferrari drivers. He is third in the overall standings with 48 points, 42 behind Schumacher and 20 adrift of Barrichello.

Six-time world champion Michael Schumacher came in fourth with 1:18.710 as he bids to win his 10th race in 11 this season. Schumacher's win last weekend in France was the 79th of his career and the 60th with Ferrari.

 -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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