SILVERSTONE, England (AP):HEIKKI KOVALAINEN captured his first Formula One pole position as fastest qualifier for today's British Grand Prix and now chases his first victory.
The McLaren driver crossed the line yesterday more than half a second faster than Red Bull's Mark Webber, who also is chasing his first win, after the bigger contenders struggled to handle the breezy and wet conditions at Silverstone.
Last year's British GP winner and world champion Kimi Raikkonen was third fastest ahead of home favourite Lewis Hamilton, whose bid to capture pole was hampered when he skidded off the circuit at a left-hand bend.
Felipe Massa, who leads the world championship by two points in a Ferrari, laboured to ninth place in the grid despite posting the fastest practice time on Friday. His best time in the third round of qualifying was more than 2 1/4 seconds slower than Kovalainen and Massa blamed it on problems at a pit stop.
lost time
"It's a real shame ending up ninth on the grid because of a problem with my pit stop," the Brazilian said. "I lost so much time as the mechanics had trouble changing the right rear wheel, and I was unable to start my second run."
One spot behind him in a BWM Sauber will be Robert Kubica, who is second in the drivers championship but failed to post a time in the last of the three rounds of qualifying. The Polish driver didn't even leave the pits because of mechanical trouble.
With wind and rain forecast for today's race, this British GP looks as wide open as the drivers overall championship. The leadership has changed four times in four races and bumps and spins look likely here if the 20 cars charge away from the starting grid in bad weather.
Anyone backing a McLaren driver to take pole position likely would have bet on Hamilton, who has already won twice this season in Australia and Monaco. It turned out to be Kovalainen.
fast times
The Finn managed consistently fast times on both days of practice and qualifying, however, and conditions were difficult yesterday when Silverstone was left damp after a heavy shower two hours before the sessions began.
"They were quite difficult qualifying conditions, with dark skies and blustery winds," said Kova-lainen, whose best was one minute 21.049 in the final qualifying round. "But in the second part (of qualifying) it was much better without any problems, before a great run in the final part which I'm very happy about.
"Tomorrow is still a long race and anything can happen, but the balance in high and low speeds is as good as it's been all season."
Webber, who has never finished higher than third in 111 starts, tied his best previous qualifying performance at Monaco two years ago after a time of 1:21.554.
"We were a bit quick but we didn't know that we would be on the front row," the Australian said. "We changed the car a little overnight and it was much better this morning. You never know what the other guys are doing, just focus on yourself. The result for us has been very impressive. The guys have done a really good job."
