Alonso denies Schumacher pole spot
MANAMA, Bahrain (Reuters) -- Championship leader Fernando Alonso put Renault on pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.
It was the young Spaniard's second pole in a row, and the fourth of his career, as Renault chase their third win in succession.
Seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher ensured Ferrari's new F2005 car would make its grand prix debut on the front row with the second best time.
As a mark of respect for pope John Paul II, who died on Saturday, the Ferraris of Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello will both display special markings in the race.
"There will be a mourning sign on the nose of the car," a team spokesman said.
The Polish-born pope visited Ferrari's Maranello factory in 1988 and was presented with a scale model of a Formula One car by team members at the Vatican in January this year.
Alonso, also fastest in Saturday's first qualifying, lapped the desert Sakhir circuit in an aggregate time of three minutes 1.902 seconds, beating Schumacher by 0.455.
Italy's Jarno Trulli, in a Toyota, was third and shares the second row with Germany's Nick Heidfeld in a Williams.
Australian Mark Webber, also in a Williams, and Toyota's Ralf Schumacher line up on the third row.
Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, Schumacher's team mate, parked his Ferrari at the end of the pit lane wall after his qualifying lap.
Barrichello, who had been sidelined by gearbox problems on Thursday and Friday, walked back to the garages after qualifying 15th.
Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, standing in for injured Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, outqualified McLaren team mate Kimi Raikkonen.
De la Rosa starts eighth, Raikkonen ninth.
Canadian Jacques Villeneuve again came off worse in comparison to Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa, the 1997 world champion qualifying his Sauber 16th while Massa was 12th.
