Raikkonen on pole for European Grand Prix

NUERBURGRING, Germany, July 21 (Reuters) Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen took pole position for the European Grand Prix today in a qualifying session overshadowed by McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton crashing heavily.

McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso will join the Finn on the front row with Brazilian Felipe Massa qualifying third for Ferrari.

Hamilton, 12 points clear of Alonso after nine successive podium finishes, forced a half hour halt to qualifying when his car ploughed into the tyre wall after leaving the track at around 260kph.

The Briton waved and gave a thumbs up sign as he was carried away on a stretcher, with an oxygen mask over his face and a drip inserted.

The team, who blamed a faulty air gun for the wheel working loose, said he was unhurt but would remain under observation for a few hours with his participation in the race uncertain.

If he does start, it will be from 10th place -- his lowest position of the season.

When the session resumed, there were just five minutes remaining for drivers to get in a quick lap and decide pole position.

It was Raikkonen who made the most of the opportunity, lapping in 1:31.450 for the 13th pole of his career and second of the season.

It also left the Finn perfectly placed for his third win in a row after victories in France and Britain this month.

Raikkonen is third overall, 18 points behind Hamilton.

BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, whose wife gave birth to a son in the early hours of Saturday morning, qualified fourth before flying to Switzerland to be with his family, with Polish team mate Robert Kubica fifth.

REUTERS SSC KN2027