Hamilton takes Spanish Grand Prix pole

BARCELONA, Spain, May 12 (UPI) -- Lewis Hamilton of McLaren won the pole position at the Spanish Grand Prix during Saturday's qualifying.

Hamilton was clocked at 1 minute, 21.707 seconds on the 2.892-mile circuit and claimed his third pole of the Formula One season.

""It was a fantastic qualifying session for me," Hamilton said. "I think it's one of the best I've ever had."

Pastor Maldanado, driving for Williams, had been in the lead for the pole but wound up second with a 1:22.258 time.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso took the third slot and F1 points leader Sebastian Vettel will start eighth in Sunday's 66-lap race.

Hamilton dismissed concerns about his car, which came to a halt on the track moments after his qualifying run was completed. "I stopped on the track because I was told to stop," he said. "I don't have any idea why, but the car was feeling great today."