World championship leader Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix with a dazzling last-gasp lap in qualifying, leaving rival Felipe Massa in fifth.
The 23-year-old Englishman in his McLaren Mercedes car was lightening quick in the final seconds with a best lap that gives him a perfect opportunity to build on his seven points lead over Massa with three races remaining.
He will share the front row of the grid with Finland's defending champion Kimi Rakkonen of Ferrari with his McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, another Finn, behind him in third.
Two times world champion Fernando Alonso of Spain was fourth for Renault ahead of Brazilian Massa, in the second Ferrari.
Poland's Robert Kubica was sixth for BMW Sauber ahead of Italian Jarno Trulli in a Toyota, his team-mate German Timo Glock, German Sebastian Vettel and his Toro Rosso team-mate Sebastien Bourdais of France.
The final part of session, Q3, saw the Ferraris take command with Raikkonen producing a fast lap in 1:18.890 after appearing to be languishing among the chasing pack.
Massa was second behind him and Hamilton a fraction adrift in third in a closely-fought battle with Kovalainen fourth before Hamilton pitted in readiness for his bid for pole.
Raikkonen clocked an improved 1:18.644 but Hamilton blitzed through in 1:18.404 to take the prime starting spot.
The opening part of qualifying was run on a drying circuit and the times improved steadily as Hamilton set the pace.
In the end, however, it was the talented Glock who raised a smile for hosts Toyota with the fastest lap.
Qualifying times from the Grandprix of Japan here today:
QUALIFYING SESSION 3
1. Lewis Hamilton (ENG/McLaren) 1min 18.404sec
2. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) +0.240
3. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/McLaren) 0.417
4. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Renault) 0.448
5. Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari) 0.470
6. Robert Kubica (POL/BMW Sauber) 0.575
7. Jarno Trulli (ITA/Toyota) 0.622
8. Timo Glock (GER/Toyota) 0.714
9. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Toro Rosso) 1.234
10. Sebastien Bourdais (FRA/Toro Rosso) 1.763
