Ralf Schumacher takes pole at Canadian Grand Prix

Last Updated: Saturday, June 14, 2003 | 10:17 PM ET

CBC News

Ralf Schumacher is doing his part to become more than just the "other" Schumacher.

The German racer, who is the younger brother of five-time world champion Michael Schumacher, won Saturday's qualifying to capture the pole position at Montreal's Air Canada Grand Prix.

The 70-lap race is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Ralf Schumacher walks down the pit lane Saturday after taking the pole position for the Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. (CP PHOTO/Paul Chiasson)

Schumacher, who races with Williams-BMW, completed the 4.361-kilometre Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in one minute 15.529 seconds. It's his second pole in as many races. He also grabbed the pole in Monaco two weeks ago.

Schumacher's teammate Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia was second at 1:15:923, while his brother Michael finished third in his Ferrari in 1:16.047.

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"That was a surprise today," said Ralf Schumacher. "We came into this weekend knowing that we could be competitive, but after what happened yesterday we had to go out very early and though we still expected to be in the top five, being in the first row was a great result."

"That's the best place for him to be - behind me," joked Ralf Schumacher, who edged Michael for the checkered flag at the 2001 Canadian Grand Prix. "It doesn't make me nervous.

"It makes me feel good if I'm on the pole. That's the target for all of us."

Michael Schumacher shares the second row Sunday with Renault's Fernando Alonso of Spain, who placed fourth in 1:16.048.

Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello was fifth quickest in qualifying, while Australian Mark Webber was sixth for Jaguar.

Local favourite Jacques Villeneuve of Iberville, Que., qualified 14th. The 1997 champion was first on the track Saturday after spinning out in pre-qualifying. He avoided any major mistakes Saturday to finish in 1:17.347.

He will begin the race on the seventh row of the grid.

Formula One standings leader Kimi Raikkonen of Finland fish-tailed on the second turn of the S-curve just after the start/finish line and could not complete his fast lap.

The mishap pushed Raikkonen to the back of the grid for Sunday's race.

"The exit of the corner was very slippery and I hit the curb and went off the track," he said. "I'm not sure how much damage was done to the car, but I don't expect it to be too much."

with files from Canadian Press