Jenson Button kept his head in a hectic qualifying session that threw up a little of everything yesterday to earn pole position for today's Australian Grand Prix.
The Honda driver gained his third career pole position and first since last year's Canadian GP.
It was also the first pole for a full Honda team since 1968, although the Japanese motor company has shared many as an engine supplier.
PHOTO: EPA
But it wasn't easy.
"I'm still shaking with the excitement," Button said. "It was really difficult to stay calm."
"It's just so tricky out there with the conditions. It was very very windy."
Button said the Melbourne weather made qualifying a little chaotic. It was dry on Friday, cool and wet on Saturday morning, then cool and dry in the afternoon.
"Manic. The whole day's been manic with the weather," Button said. "Rain, traffic, accidents. It was a hectic session. It was mad for us trying to get a lap time in."
The two red flags that stopped the sessions didn't help the situation, nor did the increased traffic on the track when the sessions resumed, as cars hurried to get qualifying times in.
"With every red flag there is completely panic in the garage," defending world champion Fernando Alonso said. "Outside it is nice to see, but inside it is quite complex."
Then there was just the regular problems with his car.
"We really struggled with grip. So to finally get this pole position is fantastic," Button said. "Honda's done a fantastic job over the last few weeks and it's good to repay them with a pole position.
"We know we haven't won a race yet and we intend to do so. But it is never easy," he said.
Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella, who won two weeks ago at Malaysia, and Alonso, winner of the opening race at Bahrain, were second and third respectively.
Button's time was 1 minute, 25.229 seconds on the 5.3km Albert Park circuit.
Fisichella's time was 1:25.635 with Alonso at 1:25.778.
"Second on the grid. It's a good opportunity to do well in the race again," said Fisichella, who won last year's Australian GP from pole position.
McLaren-Mercedes drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya were fourth and fifth with Ralf Schumacher sixth in a Toyota.
It was a bleak day for Ferrari.
Michael Schumacher, who was trying to break career pole positions record he shares with Ayrton Senna at 65, didn't make it to the final session. He was eliminated by being among the six slowest drivers of the second session and will start 11th.
His time of 1:26.718 was just behind the last qualifier, Jarno Trulli of Toyota in 1:26.327.
Schumacher has won the Australian GP four times.
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