McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen [Images] secured pole position for Sunday's German Grand Prix with the fastest lap in qualifying at Hockenheim on Saturday.

India's Narain Karthikeyan [Images] had a first hand experience of the technically demanding Hockenheim circuit as he lost his car at the first corner and ended up 19th on the grid.

Keeping Narain company at the back was Raikkonen's teammate Juan Pablo Montoya [Images] who spun after a blunder at the final corner.

Narain's Jordan teammate Tiago Monteiro finished 17th but the Indian maybe better placed because the rules permit him to start with full fuel load and so he can adopt a flexible strategy on race day.

"I lost the car on this very technical German track on the first corner. The track was dry despite the threatening sky. But the surface was quite slippery," the 28-year old Chennai lad said.

The Finn clocked 1:14.320 to claim his third pole of the season after topping the times for race drivers throughout the weekend.

Jenson Button [Images] was second fastest for BAR while championship leader Fernando Alonso [Images] qualified third and will line up on the second row as he looks to defend his 26-point lead over Raikkonen in the drivers' standings.

Raikkonen's Colombian team mate Juan Pablo Montoya, winner at Silverstone two weeks ago and at Hockenheim two years ago, spun off the track and into the tyre wall on the final corner and will start the race from the back of the grid.

World champion Michael Schumacher [Images], who took pole position in 1:13.306 on his way to victory at his home grand prix last year, qualified a creditable fifth behind Alonso's team mate Giancarlo Fisichella.

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