AP
Finnish Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen celebrates after claiming pole position during qualifying at the Catalonian racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, yesterday. The Spanish Grand Prix will take place today.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP):

MCLAREN ISN'T worried about its failure to match rival Ferrari in Spanish Grand Prix qualifying yesterday.

Lewis Hamilton timed one minute, 22.096 seconds to start from fifth on the grid today, with Heikki Kovalainen in sixth.

Defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen was just over two-tenths of a second faster to take pole position with Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa starting from third, ahead of Fernando Alonso. Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber starts fourth.

''There's no need to be worried. Like we showed this year, the car has very good pace,'' Kovalainen said.

McLaren started the season well with Hamilton winning the season-opening Australian GP. But the 23-year-old second-year driver has a fifth and 13th-place showing since, the latter being his worst placing in 20 career races. Kovalainen has finished 5-3-5.

Ferrari continues to improve

Meanwhile, Ferrari continues to improve after its worst start in 16 years at Melbourne with Raikkonen winning at Sepang and Massa at Bahrain.

''We just need to nail a weekend without any troubles and we'll be there again,'' said Kovalainen.

Kovalainen had the best time over the first section of the track, while Hamilton was fastest over the middle part, leaving the drivers convinced McLaren can finish on the podium at the Circuit de Catalunya today.

''I am actually quite surprised that we are not higher up the grid as the car felt very good, and I put in some strong laps. Being on the third row is not the end of the world,'' Hamilton said. ''The key is now to make a strong start and hopefully gain a couple of positions, and I am confident as I believe our race pace is competitive, and we have a good strategy.''