Local hero Rubens Barrichello sent his countrymen into raptures as he scorched to pole position for tomorrow's Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo.
The 30-year-old Ferrari driver took the seventh pole of his career by just 0.011 seconds from Britain's David Coulthard as the qualifying session ended in a thrilling climax.
Australia's Mark Webber, the last man out on the track, finished third for Jaguar having been quicker than Barrichello until the last few hundred metres on the Interlagos track.
The Sao Paulo-born Barrichello will hope to end his nightmare run in his home race having failed to finish the grand prix in his last eight attempts.
Barrichello threw up his arms in delight after taking top spot from Coulthard, although he had an anxious few moments with Webber powering around until his first pole since last July's British Grand Prix was confirmed.
But his team-mate and five-time world champion Michael Schumacher will again have to try and force his way to the front after qualifying in seventh spot.
The German, looking to launch his championship fightback after two relatively disappointing races, made a mistake by hitting Renault's Jarno Trulli on the opening lap in Malaysia two weeks ago when faced with a similar position.
Jenson Button qualified in 11th place having had to go out onto the track first following yesterday's spectacular spin on the wet circuit during first qualifying, which determined today's running order.
The 23-year-old British American Racing driver afterwards revealed his fears if tomorrow's 71-lap battle is run in the similar rain-lashed conditions that turned practice into a lottery.
Button out qualified team-mate Jacques Villeneuve for the second race in succession, although that could be due to the new qualifying format whereby drivers might have different fuel loads.
The weather is expected to take a turn for the worse again tomorrow meaning the race could start under the safety car.
Jordan's Ralph Firman qualified in 16th spot - the best of his short Formula One career so far - while Minardi's Justin Wilson, who has twice won at Interlagos in other categories, will line-up last on the grid in 20th place.