Alonso takes pole position for Monaco GP

After being upstaged by Ferrari and McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton so far this season, two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso is back on track.

Alonso was fastest in qualifying Saturday and will start the Monaco Grand Prix ahead of Hamilton, who leads the standings.

The Spaniard completed the 2.076-mile, twisting street circuit in 1 minute, 15.726 seconds for the 16th pole of his career _ but the first since the Chinese GP in October.

"To be in pole position here is very, very important and the first pole (this season) for McLaren is very important," Alonso said. "All weekend has been quite good for us."

Hamilton was next at 1:15.905. Felipe Massa of Ferrari, who had the pole in the last three races, was third at 1:15.967 for Sunday's 78-lap race.

In his debut F1 season, Hamilton leads the standings with 30 points, two ahead of Alonso. Massa is third with 27 points.

"I am in a good position for tomorrow's race. I am confident," said Masa, who has won the last two races. "The race here is very long and it is vital to maintain concentration."

Kimi Raikkonen finished 16th after his Ferrari had suspension problems in the second 15-minute session, stopping on the next-to-last turn of the circuit and struggling to get back to the pits.

David Coulthard was 11th with his original second session time but was then dropped two places because of interference in qualifying.

The morning practice session Saturday was hampered by rain with Adrian Sutil of Spyker recording the fastest time, more than 20 seconds slower than qualifying.

Last season in Monaco, Michael Schumacher was stripped of the pole after stewards ruled he'd stopped on the track and hampered Alonso, who won the race from the top spot on the grid.