MONACO, May 27: Ferrari's Michael Schumacher triggered uproar at the Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday by claiming pole after a driving incident that prompted allegations of unsporting behaviour and underhand tactics.

The seven times champion faced pointed questions about his sportsmanship after claiming his 67th career pole ahead of Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso.

The German ran wide and stopped on the exit to the penultimate corner in the closing seconds of the final session, with Alonso and others still to complete their final flying laps behind him.

Alonso said the yellow flags following the Schumacher incident forced him to slow, losing him at least three tenths of a second and possibly robbing him of pole.

“I have my opinion and I won't tell it here,” said the 24-year-old Spaniard when asked by reporters whether he considered it a sporting incident.

The governing body could not confirm reports that Renault were protesting in an attempt to have Schumacher stripped of his fastest lap. Pole is particularly important on Monaco's street circuit.

Schumacher, looking puzzled in a news conference, denied anything underhand.

Australian Mark Webber was third fastest for Williams with McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, last year's winner, fourth.

Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella starts on the third row with McLaren's Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, the 2003 winner.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa will start at the back of the grid after crashing in the first part of qualifying.

Grid and qualifying result:

1. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:13.898; 2. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:13.962; 3. Mark Webber (Australia) Williams-Cosworth 1:14.082; 4. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:14.140; 5. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Renault 1:14.396; 6. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) McLaren 1:14.664; 7. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Honda 1:15.804; 8. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 1:15.857; 9. David Coulthard (Britain) RedBull-Ferrari 1:16.426; 10. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Williams-Cosworth 1:16.636; 11. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Toyota 1:14.398; 12. Christian Klien (Austria) RedBull-Ferrari 1:14.747; 13. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy) Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1:14.969; 14. Jenson Button (Britain) Honda 1:14.982; 15. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BMW Sauber 1:15.052; 16. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber 1:15.137; 17. Christijan Albers (Netherlands) MF1-Toyota 1:15.598; 18. Tiago Monteiro (Portugal) MF1-Toyota 1:15.993; 19. Scott Speed (US) Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1:16.236; 20. Takuma Sato (Japan) Super Aguri-Honda 1:17.276; 21. Franck Montagny (France) Super Aguri-Honda 1:17.502; 22. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari.—Reuters