Fernando Alonso claimed a dramatic pole position for Renault for tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix, the highly rated Spanish driver giving the former Benetton team their first pole since 1997 and Jarno Trulli completing a perfect day by setting the second fastest time.  Michael Schumacher was third quickest for Ferrari, with David Coulthard a solid fourth for McLaren ahead of the second Ferrari driven by Rubens Barrichello.

Today's result will bring a smile to the face of FIA President Max Mosley, providing further evidence that the new regulations introduced for this season are going to produce more unpredictable qualifying sessions.  Nick Heidfeld's Sauber was sixth, another outstanding performance, in front of Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya, the latter having a difficult session but nothing compared to team mate Ralf Schumacher who again fell foul of the new system and wound up only 17th.

The top ten was completed by Jensen Button's BAR, once again ahead of team mate Jacques Villeneuve who was 12th, and Olivier Panis who was 10th in his Toyota in front of team mate Christiano Da Matta, again impressive in only his second Formula One event.  Behind Heinz-Harald Frentzen in 13th place came Giancarlo Fisichella's Jordan Ford, heading the two Jaguars of Antonio Pizzonia and Mark Webber, while behind Ralf Schumacher the rear of the field was brought up by the two Minardis and Ralf Firman's Jordan Ford.