MAGNY-COURS (Paris) July 15: Michael Schumacher led Fr ench Grand Prix with a dominant demonstration of his enduring skills in Saturday's qualifying session as Ferrari delivered a one-two to fill the front row of the grid.

The seven-time world champion was the only man to clock times under the 1:16 barrier in all three sections of the qualifying hour on the way to his 68th pole position.

Schumacher's team mate Brazilian Felipe Massa was second-fastest after clocking an improved lap in the final seconds to outpace defending world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso in his Renault. Alonso had clocked a second-best time just as the flag fell, but Massa was already on track with a lap to complete.

Schumacher's best lap in the final session was one minute and 15.493 seconds. Alonso wound up third with Italian Jarno Trulli fourth for Toyota, German Ralf Schumacher fifth and Finland's Kimi Raikkonen sixth in his McLaren Mercedes-Benz.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was seventh for Renault, Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa eighth in the second McLaren, German Nico Rosberg ninth for Williams and Briton David Coulthard tenth for Red Bull.

Several wilted in the heat and humidity early on, with the air temperature reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) and the track a scorching 54 degrees.

The most spectacular and surprising departure was that of Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, who was fastest in the morning free session in his BMW Sauber.

But he was in good company as Briton Jenson Button was also condemned to an early shower after clocking the 19th-fastest time in his Honda.

Starting grid:

1. Michael Schumacher (GER) 1:15.493, 2. Felipe Massa (BRA) 1:15.510

2nd row: 3. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 1:15.785, 4. Jarno Trulli (ITA) 1:16.036

3rd row: 5. Ralf Schumacher (GER) 1:16.091, 6. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 1:16.281

4th row: 7. Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) 1:16.345, 8. Pedro de la Rosa (ESP) 1:16.632

5th row: 9. Nico Rosberg (GER) :18.272, 10. David Coulthard (UK) 1:18.663

6th row: 11. Mark Webber (AUS) 1:16.129, 12. Nick Heidfeld (GER) 1:16.294

7th row: 13. Christian Klien (AUT)l 1:16.433, 14. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) 1:17.027

8th row: 15. Scott Speed (USA) 1:17.063, 16. Christijan Albers (NED) 1:17.105

9th row: 17. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) 1:17.164, 18. Jacques Villeneuve (CAN) 1:17.304

10th row: 19. Jenson Button (GBR) 1:17.495, 20. Tiago Monteiro (POR) 1:17.589

11th row: 21. Franck Montagny (FRA) 1:18.637, 22. Takuma Sato (JPN) 1:18.845. —AFP