McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen dashed Michael Schumacher’s hopes of pole position for Ferrari’s home Italian Grand Prix on Saturday.

The Finn pipped the seven times champion by just 0.002 seconds.

Ferrari’s Schumacher, in what will be his final European appearance if he announces on Sunday that he is retiring at the end of the season, lines up alongside on the front row with title rival Fernando Alonso in fifth.

BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld was third quickest and shares the second row with Ferrari’s Brazilian Felipe Massa.

Alonso leads Schumacher by 12 points with four races remaining.

Qualifying could have gone far worse for Renault’s championship leader, who suffered a rear right tyre failure during the final session and had to limp back to the pits with the clock ticking down.

P. No Driver Team - Engine Tyres Times Ave/Gaps

1. 3 RAIKKONEN McLaren Mercedes M 1′21″484 255.937 Km/h
2. 5 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari B 1′21″486 255.931 Km/h
3. 16 HEIDFELD BMW Sauber M 1′21″653 255.408 Km/h
4. 6 MASSA Ferrari B 1′21″704 255.248 Km/h
5. 1 ALONSO Renault M 1′21″829 254.858 Km/h
6. 12 BUTTON Honda M 1′22″011 254.293 Km/h
7. 17 KUBICA BMW Sauber M 1′22″258 253.529 Km/h
8. 4 DE LA ROSA McLaren Mercedes M 1′22″280 253.461 Km/h
9. 11 BARRICHELLO Honda M 1′22″787 251.909 Km/h
10. 2 FISICHELLA Renault M 1′23″175 250.734 Km/h
11. 8 TRULLI Toyota B 1′21″924 254.563 Km/h
12. 10 ROSBERG Williams Cosworth B 1′22″203 253.699 Km/h
13. 7 R.SCHUMACHER Toyota B 1′22″280 253.461 Km/h
14. 14 COULTHARD RedBull Ferrari M 1′22″589 252.513 Km/h
15. 21 SPEED Toro Rosso Cosw. M 1′23″165 250.764 Km/h
16. 15 KLIEN RedBull Ferrari M 0′00″000
17. 20 LIUZZI Toro Rosso Cosw. M 1′23″043 251.133 Km/h
18. 19 ALBERS Midland Toyota B 1′23″116 250.912 Km/h
19. 9 WEBBER Williams Cosworth B 1′23″341 250.235 Km/h
20. 18 MONTEIRO Midland Toyota B 1′23″920 248.508 Km/h
21. 22 SATO S. Aguri F1 Honda B 1′24″289 247.420 Km/h
22. 23 YAMAMOTO S. Aguri F1 Honda B 1′26″001 242.495 Km/h

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