Alonso trailing in Raikkonen's wake

Kimi Raikkonen clocked a stunning lap today to set the fastest in first qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix, leaving title rival Fernando Alonso trailing.

The McLaren driver, who won two weeks ago in Spain, was in superb form around the twisty Principality streets to make him a near-certainty to take pole position tomorrow.

Raikkonen's lap of one minute 13.644 was nearly half a second quicker than world championship leader Alonso.

Renault driver Alonso confidently signalled to the crowd and on-board camera after his lap put him half a second clear but the smile was soon wiped off the Spaniard's face when Raikkonen stole top spot.

Mark Webber continued to show fine form over one lap to take third for Williams while Giancarlo Fisichella was fourth in the other Renault before tomorrow's session, after which the times are aggregated.

Juan Pablo Montoya finished fifth in the second McLaren while Williams' Nick Heidfeld was sixth.

World champion Michael Schumacher was the fourth man out on track, an early starting position which came courtesy of his Spanish retirement and brought a unwelcome handicap of a dusty track.

The Ferrari driver was not expected to overcome that hindrance but just how slow Schumacher lapped was a surprise and he was even behind old foe Jacques Villeneuve's Sauber.

Schumacher ended up 11th, well over two seconds off the pole position pace with Rubens Barrichello also struggling badly, although the Brazilian did at least beat his team-mate on his way to 10th.

Villeneuve's lap offered a glimpse of the speed which took the Canadian to the 1997 title and for the first time this season he qualified ahead of team-mate Felipe Massa, taking ninth.

David Coulthard needed his car hastily repaired following a practice shunt this morning when Villeneuve punted him into the barriers.

But Red Bull got the car ready in time and the Scotsman kept his points chances alive with eighth.

Ralf Schumacher, who started qualifying with a half-second penalty after a tyre problem, brought out the red flags when he destroyed his Toyota after getting too close to the barriers.

The German misjudged the left turn at Tabac and clipped his left wheel against the barrier. That catapulted him into the steel on the right of the track and tore off both wings and two wheels while dumping oil across the track.

Narain Karthikeyan claimed arguably the most spectacular lap of the weekend with a hairy qualifying effort.

Three times the Indian had to desperately rescue his Jordan from the steel barriers but his effort counted for little and he qualified 17th.

Today was a bleak day for Jordan, who are at the centre of speculation surrounding their future. They did little to cheer the mood on track and were out-qualified by both Minardis for the first time this season.

Minardi are finally seeing the improvements promised from their new car and Patrick Friesacher and Christijan Albers claimed 14th and 15th respectively.