Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen took pole position for the European Grand Prix on Saturday in a qualifying session overshadowed by McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton crashing heavily.
McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso will join the Finn on the front row with Brazilian Felipe Massa qualifying third for Ferrari.
Hamilton, 12 points clear of Alonso after nine successive podium finishes, forced a half hour halt to qualifying when his car ploughed into the tyre wall after leaving the track at around 260kph.
The Briton waved and gave a thumbs up sign as he was carried away on a stretcher, with an oxygen mask over his face and a drip inserted.
The team, who blamed a faulty air gun for the wheel working loose, said he was unhurt but would remain under observation for a few hours with his participation in the race uncertain.
If he does start, it will be from 10th place -- his lowest position of the season.
When the session resumed, there were just five minutes remaining for drivers to get in a quick lap and decide pole position.
It was Raikkonen who made the most of the opportunity, lapping in 1:31.450 for the 13th pole of his career and second of the season.
It also left the Finn perfectly placed for his third win in a row after victories in France and Britain this month.
Raikkonen is third overall, 18 points behind Hamilton.
BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, whose wife gave birth to a son in the early hours of Saturday morning, qualified fourth before flying to Switzerland to be with his family, with Polish team mate Robert Kubica fifth.
Provisional qualifying result:
1. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari one min 31.450 secs
2. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren 1:31.741
3. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1:31.778
4. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber 1:31.840
5. Robert Kubica (Poland) BMW Sauber 1:32.123
6. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 1:32.476
7. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Renault 1:32.478
8. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 1:32.501
9. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Toyota 1:32.570
10. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren 1:33.833
11. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Williams - Toyota 1:31.978
12. Alexander Wurz (Austria) Williams - Toyota 1:31.996
13. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Renault 1:32.010
14. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Honda 1:32.221
15. Anthony Davidson (Britain) Super Aguri - Honda 1:32.451
16. Takuma Sato (Japan) Super Aguri - Honda 1:32.838
17. Jenson Button (Britain) Honda 1:32.983
18. Scott Speed (U.S.) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:33.038
19. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:33.148
20. David Coulthard (Britain) RedBull - Renault 1:33.151
21. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Spyker - Ferrari 1:34.500
22. Markus Winkelhock (Germany) Spyker - Ferrari 1:35.940
