Alonso takes pole position for Hungarian GP

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) -- Renault's Fernando Alonso earned the pole position Saturday for the Hungarian Grand Prix, while world champion Michael Schumacher was the eighth fastest qualifier.

It is the third consecutive race in which Schumacher, the series leader, won't line up among the top three. He hasn't won a Formula One race since the Canadian GP in June.

"In the warmup everything went fine," said Schumacher, a five-time world champion. "I have to make up for my mistakes in the race."

Alonso won his second pole of the season in 1 minute, 21.688 seconds on the 2.72-mile Hungaroring, ahead of Ralf Schumacher at 1:21.944. Schumacher's team, Williams-BMW, has dominated since the beginning of June with four victories, four seconds and four poles.

"It's been a difficult weekend because it's a difficult track -- quite dirty -- but from the beginning, the car has been very competitive," Alonso said.

Mark Webber was third at 1:22.027 in his Jaguar.

Alonso took the pole position in Malaysia and became the youngest driver ever, at 21, to top Formula One qualifying. He turned 22 in July.

Michael Schumacher clocked 1:22.755 in his Ferrari. He has not had a pole position since mid-May at the Austrian GP. He leads the drivers standings by six points over Juan Pablo Montoya with four races left.

"There were no particular problems," Schumacher said. "I have no idea I was so slow. Although it is kind of OK because the gap so small. It's still disappointing. We'll have to find something for the setup overnight."

Montoya of Williams-BMW, and Rubens Barrichello of Ferrari were fourth and fifth with the same time of 1:22.180. Montoya received the higher placing on the grid because he did it first, starting 13th, while Barrichello's was 16th.

Ralph Firman of Jordan crashed in the morning practice and had a bruised heel and slight concussion. He was replaced by 21-year-old Zsolt Baumgartner, who became the first Hungarian to participate in a Formula One Grand Prix.

Sunday's race is 70 laps on the track that was changed this year to improve overtaking opportunities. The circuit has been lengthened since last year when Barrichello had the pole in 1:13.333.