Ferrari ruled the streets of Monte Carlo today with Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher leading team mate Rubens Barrichello in firstqualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix. The German, seeking a record-equalling sixth win in Monacoto take over the championship lead, was a master of precision ashe lapped the tight and twisty street circuit in one minute16.305 seconds.
Schumacher has started on pole and won the last three racesin a row this season. He was well inside last year's pole timeof 1:16.676, set on a slightly different circuit by ColombianJuan Pablo Montoya in a Williams.
Brazilian Barrichello was 0.331 behind the five-timeschampion to ensure that the Ferrari drivers will run last of allin Saturday's decisive one lap qualifying session thatdetermines the starting grid.
Briton Jenson Button, a Monaco resident like many of hisrivals, was the best of the rest with an impressive thirdfastest time for BAR.
Italian Jarno Trulli underlined Renault's challenge with thefourth fastest time after less experienced Spanish team mateFernando Alonso paid the price for errors on the unforgivingtrack and ended up 14th.
McLaren's David Coulthard, winner last year and in 2000, wasfifth quickest while team mate and championship leader KimiRaikkonen languished in 11th place.
The session was halted for 25 minutes to clean up oil dumpedon the track by the Sauber of Heinz-Harald Frentzen, whoseengine blew as he started his flying lap.
German Frentzen, who failed to start the last race inAustria due to a clutch problem, will run first on Saturdayafter being unable to set a time.
Mark Webber, fastest for Jaguar in the morning practice, wasnext out but an ominous puff of smoke came from his engine onthe warming up lap and the Australian had to settle for ninthplace.
Montoya had a disappointing afternoon with the eighth besttime, while his team mate Ralf Schumacher was sixth.