Brazil GP, Sao Paulo - Sunday, 1800 BST
Michael Schumacher's slim world title hopes looked in ruins after he suffered engine failure in the final qualifying run at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Schumacher chances of pole were shattered in the final session
He was unable to record a time, leaving him 10th and facing a possible 10-place penalty if an engine change is needed.
Renault's Fernando Alonso, 10 points clear in the championship, will start fourth on the grid and looks a huge favourite to defend his world title.
Ferrari's Felipe Massa took pole in a time of one minute 10.680 seconds.
Schumacher was poised for either pole or at the very least a place on the front row of the grid as Ferrari dominated the first two qualifying stints at Interlagos.
But, on his out-lap in the final 20-minute session, Schumacher's Ferrari toured round the 4.3km circuit before returning to the garage with fuel pressure problems.
For sure he will fight a lot and hopefully we can finish in the front and make a first and second
Felipe Massa on team-mate Michael Schumacher
The Ferrari mechanics frantically worked on the car but were unable to get him back on track as it was left to team-mate Felipe Massa to ensure pole in front of his home crowd.
"It's a sensational day for me, I'm sure I'll never forget - this race is very special," Massa said afterwards. "The Brazilian fans deserved this, it's one of the happiest days of my life."
"Michael was not lucky today, he seems to be not very lucky in the last two races," Massa said afterwards.
"He was very strong in every practice this morning and he has a very strong car for the race. For sure he will fight a lot and hopefully we can finish in the front and make a first and second."
The McLaren of Kimi Raikkonen joins Massa on the front row, with Jarno Trulli's Toyota in third alongside Alonso.
But it was bitter disappointment for Schumacher, who retires from Formula One after Sunday's race.
The 37-year-old faces the daunting task of needing to win from 10th on the grid and hoping Alonso finishes outside the points or retires to win an eighth world crown.
Britain's Jenson Button also endured a miserable qualifying, settling for 14th after struggling with traction control problems in the first two sessions.
But Honda team-mate Rubens Barrichello fared better as he sealed fifth on the grid, just ahead of Renault Giancarlo Fisichella.
Meanwhile, David Coulthard suffered one of his worst qualifying performances of the season, with the Scot starting 18th for Red Bull.
Behind Coulthard will be Super Aguri duo Takuma Sato and Sakon Yamamoto, Midland's Tiago Monteiro - who spun off on his first quick lap - and Red Bull team-mate Robert Doornbos, due to a 10-place grid penalty following an engine change.
Leading positions after Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying:
1 Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1min 10.680secs
2 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren 1:11.299
3 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:11.328
4 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:11.567
5 Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 1:11.619
6 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:11.629
7 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:11.695
8 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:11.882
9 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:12.131
10 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari no time
11 Mark Webber (Aus) Williams-Cosworth 1:11.650
12 Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) McLaren 1:11.658
13 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Cosworth 1:11.679
14 Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1:11.742
15 Robert Doornbos* (Ned) Red Bull-Ferrari 1:12.591
16 Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1:12.861
17 Scott Speed (USA) Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1:12.856
18 Christijan Albers (Ned) Midland-Toyota 1:13.138
19 David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Ferrari 1:13.249
20 Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda 1:13.269
21 Sakon Yamamoto (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda 1:13.357
22 Tiago Monteiro (Por) Midland-Toyota no time
* Doornbos faces a 10-place grid penalty following an engine change