Imola (Italy): Michael Schumacher earned the 66th pole of his career on Saturday for the San Marino Grand Prix, breaking the record he shared with Ayrton Senna.
Schumacher, still seeking his first win this season, covered the track where Senna was killed 12 years ago in 1 minute, 22.795 seconds.
“It has a special meaning to me,” Schumacher said, adding that he would enjoy the record more when he retires. “Right now, I'm so focused on what comes next.”
Schumacher has a record six wins in Imola. But aside from last year's U.S. Grand Prix, when six cars raced because of a tire dispute, he hasn't won since the Japanese GP in October 2004.
Honda's Jenson Button qualified second and Rubens Barrichello was third.
Button will start alongside Schumacher in the front row for Sunday's race after covering the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit in 1:22.988. Barrichello will begin behind his old Ferrari colleague Schumacher inside the second row after clocking 1:23.242.
Schumacher's new Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa was fourth and championship leader Fernando Alonso qualified fifth in 1:23.709.
But Schumacher's pole position total has been a subject of debate.
At the 1997 European Grand Prix in Spain, Schumacher crashed into Jacques Villeneuve in what some believe was a deliberate move, and the sport's governing body disqualified Schumacher from the final standings of the season.
According to some counts, the disqualification also deprives Schumacher of the three poles he won that year in Canada, France and Hungary. Without those, Schumacher's total is 63.
The pole position mark was the only significant Formula One record that Schumacher lacked. The German has won seven world titles, two more than Juan Manuel Fangio.
However, his run of five straight world titles was broken last season by Alonso and Schumacher has had only one good race this season, a runner-up finish from the pole at the opener in Bahrain.
Ferrari worked overtime since both Schumacher and Massa crashed out in Australia three weeks ago. The team is introducing several aerodynamic improvements this weekend, but Schumacher indicated that the most important upgrades were in the team's Bridgestone tires.
“Now we know what (tires) to use and what it can do,” he said. “Yesterday I said I was aiming for pole and the win. Today we have reached the first target and I hope I can make the second one tomorrow. I am convinced we have a good chance of winning.”
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