Hamilton takes pole for Italian Grand Prix

MONZA, Italy – Lewis Hamilton of McLaren will start the Italian Grand Prix from pole position after leading qualifying on Saturday, and Giancarlo Fisichella will make his Ferrari debut from 14th on the grid.

The defending Formula One champion earned his 15th career pole after setting a leading lap time of 1 minute, 24.066 seconds to edge Force India driver Adrian Sutil at the Monza circuit.

Kimi Raikkonen, coming off a victory at Belgium, goes third for Ferrari at its home circuit and the season’s fastest race, where cars average nearly 250 kph (155 mph).

Overall F1 leader Jenson Button starts sixth, one spot behind closest title rival and Brawn GP teammate Rubens Barrichello, while Red Bull pair Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber start ninth and 10th, respectively for Sunday’s 53-lap race.

But the team said Barrichello might have to make a gearbox change, which would see the Brazilian demoted five places on the grid.

“We’re going to have another look at all the information,” team principal Ross Brawn said. “There’s no decision yet.”

Hamilton took his second pole position in three races right at the finish with a flying lap that was just under two-tenths faster than Sutil. The driver starting first on the grid here has won seven of the last 10 races.

“I don’t think we anticipated being as quick as we are this weekend,” said Hamilton, who came second here in 2007 and who will now enjoy his KERS power boost at the start. “It was a very close qualifying session ... but I was able to put the lap together.” (AP)