Montoya takes pole position in Brazil

Juan Pablo Montoya swept to pole position for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix and turned the tables on Ferrari's world champion Michael Schumacher.

The Colombian, leader in Brazil in his debut season last year before being shunted out of the race, clocked a flying lap of one minute 13.114 seconds to reverse the start order from the last Malaysian Grand Prix.

It was the fourth pole of his career.

Schumacher, a three times winner in Brazil who was qualifying for the first time in the new Ferrari F2002, was on pole in Brazil last year but this time was beaten by 0.127 of a second.

Michael's younger brother Ralf, who led Montoya in a Williams one-two in Malaysia, had looked likely to secure the second pole of his career but had to make do with a second row start as third fastest in 1:13.328.

At Sepang it was Michael who took pole ahead of Montoya in a race that saw both men bang into each other as they fought for the lead into the first corner.

MORE DRAMA

The Interlagos grid, with the two rivals lining up alongside each other again, set the scene for more drama with only two points separating championship leader Schumacher from the Colombian after two races.

"Whoever maybe wins tomorrow can lead the championship," said Montoya. "It's going to be quite interesting."

But Schumacher, who can secure his 100th career podium on Sunday, swiftly dampened the excitement: "I don't think we have a problem there," he said of the start.

Ralf said he was "relatively happy" with his slot.

"That's life isn't it," he said. "The two of us have done a good job and I think we are both in a good position to make at least one person's life difficult.

McLaren's David Coulthard, winner in Brazil last year but still without a point in 2002, was fourth quickest with team mate Kimi Raikkonen of Finland the fifth fastest.

The Renaults of Italian Jarno Trulli and Briton Jenson Button followed in sixth and seventh respectively, ahead of local hope Rubens Barrichello who lost his fastest lap as punishment for a free practice infringement.

Finland's Mika Salo gave Toyota another top 10 start with the 10th fastest time while Jaguar moved into respectable territory with Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa starting 11th and Eddie Irvine 13th.

FULLY JUSTIFIED

Schumacher said the decision to bring the new car to Brazil had been fully justified.

"The old car for sure is not faster than the new car," he declared. "I don't know what position I would have been in with the old car today."

Barrichello, still using the old car, saw his hopes of a top slot effectively vanish in the morning when he drove through a red light at the end of the pit lane in free practice.

The Brazilian, who has failed to finish in his home race for the past seven years and will be starting his 150th grand prix, was reported to stewards who stripped him of his fastest lap in qualifying.

The sanction was criticised by Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, who said Barrichello had been unable to see the light and a warning sensor in his cockpit had not illuminated until after he crossed the line.

"I think it's a very bad decision," he said. "I have a lot of regard for the FIA (International Automobile Federation) but I think they have to reconsider how these decisions are made."

But the driver stayed calm.

"One should not be worried about the times. My best result in Brazil was when I started 14th," he said.

Barrichello was not the only driver to lose his best lap in qualifying. Jordan's Japanese rookie Takuma Sato committed the same offence on Friday and starts 19th.