Ferrari's Michael Schumacher will start Sunday's Austrian Formula One Grand Prix from pole positionalongside the Williams of Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya.
The world champion lapped the A1 Ring in one minute 09.562 seconds, shattering the 2000 pole time of 1:10.410 set by McLaren's Mika Hakkinen.
Schumacher had a late scare on his final flying lap when the Arrows of Dutchman Jos Verstappen spun in front of him and he had to take evasiveaction at speed, running wide into the gravel.
It was the 37th pole of Schumacher's career and his fifth in six races this season. More impressively, it was the German's ninth in the last 10races.
Montoya, second in the last race in Spain and sounding confident on a sunny weekend in southern Austria, set up what could be a dramatic startwith a second fastest time of 1:09.686.
The Colombian newcomer has a reputation for respecting no reputations and hit the headlines in Brazil when he audaciously overtook Schumacherto lead the race.
He also made a blistering start in Barcelona, running sixth at the first corner after starting in 12th place.
Ralf Schumacher, Michael's younger brother and Montoya's team mate, was third fastest and will start alongside Ferrari's Brazilian RubensBarrichello who was fourth.Jarno Trulli took 5th in his Jordan while Frentzen could only manage 11th in the other Jordan.
The McLarens of double champion Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard struggled, with Coulthard seventh fastest and Finland's Hakkineneighth.
Eddie Irvine in a Jaguar is back in 13th.
Reuters