October 23, 2006	Monday	Ramazan 29, 1427

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SAO PAULO (Brazil), Oct 22: Fernando Alonso had a second successive Formula One title in his sights on Saturday after fuel pressure problems hit Michael Schumacher's chances of ending his career on a winning high in Brazil.

Schumacher, who must triumph on Sunday to have any hope of retiring with an unprecedented eighth crown, qualified 10th at Interlagos with his Renault rival lining up on the second row in fourth place.

The German, calling time on the most successful career in Formula One after 250 races and a record 91 wins, watched from the Ferrari garage as team-mate Felipe Massa delighted the home crowd with pole position.

“We lost fuel pressure. We don't really know why,” said technical director Ross Brawn after the German failed to complete a timed lap in Saturday's third and final qualifying session.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, Schumacher's successor at Ferrari next year, qualified on the front row next to Massa to boost his team's hopes of staving off their first season in a decade without a win.

Alonso, 10 points clear of Schumacher and needing only a point from the season-ending showdown for his second successive title, starts alongside Toyota's Jarno Trulli.

Champions Renault lead Ferrari by nine points and have both their drivers ahead of Schumacher, with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella qualifying sixth.

Schumacher, fastest in the second session of Saturday's knockout qualifying on a sunny afternoon, slowed almost immediately after leaving the pit lane.

He cruised round and stayed in the car as mechanics battled against the clock in a vain attempt to get him back out.

Grid position:1. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1:10.680; 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:11.299; 3. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 1:11.328; 4. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:11.567; 5. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Honda 1:11.619; 6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Renault 1:11.629; 7. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Toyota 1:11.695; 8. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber 1:11.882; 9. Robert Kubica (Poland) BMW Sauber 1:12.131; 10. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari; 11. Mark Webber (Australia) Williams-Cosworth 1:11.650; 12. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) McLaren 1:11.658; 13. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Williams-Cosworth 1:11.679; 14. Jenson Button (Britain) Honda 1:11.742; 15. Robert Doornbos (Netherlands) RedBull-Ferrari 1:12.591; 16. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy) Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1:12.861; 17. Scott Speed (US) Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1:12.856; 18. Christijan Albers (Netherlands) MF1-Toyota 1:13.138; 19. David Coulthard (Britain) RedBull-Ferrari 1:13.249; 20. Takuma Sato (Japan) Super Aguri-Honda 1:13.269; 21. Sakon Yamamoto (Japan) Super Aguri-Honda 1:13.357; 22. Tiago Monteiro (Portugal) MF1-Toyota.—Reuters