Sports Calendar

Alonso is hoping to use Sunday's race to overtake Hamilton for first place in the season standings. Alonso trails Hamilton 70-68 after his victory at the European Grand Prix on July 22 in Germany.

Massa has 59 points for third place, with Raikkonen in fourth with 52 points.

McLaren leads the constructor standings with 138 points to 111 for Ferrari.

Besides the season-long on-track duel between the two teams, McLaren and Ferrari are also embroiled in a bitter legal dispute concerning leaked information and sabotage.

Ferrari on Friday rejected accusations made earlier by McLaren team leader Ron Dennis that Ferrari used illegal car parts in the season opener in Australia, saying the claims were "both serious and false."

Dennis had accused the Italian team of having an "illegal competitive advantage" at the March race, saying Raikkonen may have won in a car using an illegal floor attachment mechanism.

The main dispute began when a 780-page technical dossier on Ferrari cars was found at the home of McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan, who has since been suspended. The documents were allegedly supplied by Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney, who was fired.

Sunday's race will be 70 laps.

Results from qualifying

1. Fernando Alonso, Spain, McLaren-Mercedes, 1 minute, 19.674 seconds, 197.95 kph (123.001 mph).

2. Lewis Hamilton, Britain, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:19.781.

3. Nick Heidfeld, Germany, BMW-Sauber, 1:20.259.