MONZA, Italy, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Juan Montoya of Colombia averaged 160.833 miles per hour Saturday for the fastest qualifying lap in Formula One history while winning the pole for the Italian Grand Prix.
Montoya averaged 259.827 kilometers per hour in a Williams BMW to edge out five-time World Champion Michael Schumacher of Germany for his seventh pole this year. The previous fastest lap of 259.005 kph (160.324 mph) was set by Keke Rosberg at Silverstone, England in 1985 in a turbo-charged Williams machine.
Despite starting from the pole six times this season, the defending Italian GP champion has yet to take advantage of the position and taste victory. Montoya failed to finish three straight times after starting from the pole in Monaco, Canada and the European Grand Prix. His top finish from the pole was third in England.
Ralf Schumacher, Michael's brother, was third in the other Williams BMW, with Rubens Barrichello of Brazil fourth in the second Ferrari. Ralf Schumacher and Montoya chased for better times in the final minutes of qualifying, but neither was able to improve.
The Italian team drivers used their laps early in the session to get the Bridgestone tires used to the track conditions.
"It seemed like we couldn't make it on the first lap time," said Michael Schumacher, who averaged 160.319 mph. "We had to deal with the way our tires work in a different way to our competitors."
Driving one of the McLaren Mercedes, Kimi Raikkonen of Finland qualified fifth for the ninth time this year. His best finish was second at the French GP when he started fourth.
Toward the end of the session, Raikkonen did not see Takuma Sato of Japan approach in a Jordan and they made contact as both went on the gravel. Neither driver was injured, but the red flag was brought out for several minutes and Sato's left side was damaged.
Jaguar's Eddie Irvine of Northern Ireland, who has struggled this year, was sixth for his best qualifying effort of 2002. Irvine nudged past David Coulthard of Scotland in the final two minutes.
Coulthard and Pedro de la Rosam who is in the second Jaguar, make up the fourth row.
The conditions were ideal throughout the runs and the good weather is expected to continue for Sunday's race.
