AP
Brasilia, Oct 21: Felipe Massa has put himself in the middle of Formula One's race for the championship.
The Ferrari driver doesn't have any chances of clinching the title, but by taking the pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix he could influence the season's outcome.
McLaren rookie driver Lewis Hamilton enters Sunday's finale with a four-point lead over teammate Fernando Alonso, and a seven-point advantage over Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen. It is the first time in 21 years that three drivers have reached the final race in contention for the title.
Massa has nothing to lose, though, and all the Brazilian wants is to clinch a victory for the home fans.
"I hope to win tomorrow,'' he said. ''It would be fantastic to come back here and repeat my victory from last year.''
Massa earned the pole at the 4.3-kilometre (2.6-mile) Interlagos track in 1 minute, 11.931 seconds, ahead of Hamilton, Raikkonen and Alonso.
Hamilton can guarantee the title with a top-two finish on Sunday, regardless of what other drivers do. But if he has a sub-par performance, many different combinations could decide the championship.
And with Massa taking the pole, Raikkonen gained an edge.
"Obviously I will do whatever is needed to help the team in its fight for the drivers' title,'' Massa said. ''I am sorry not to be fighting for it myself.''
Raikkonen can win his first title by finishing first and hoping Alonso ends third or worse and Hamilton sixth or worse. The Finn can also win the title by coming second if Alonso ends fourth or lower and Hamilton eighth or lower.
"For sure we (Ferrari) wanted to be one and two, but it didn't happen,'' Raikkonen said. ''But I am still looking forward to the race and I think we have a good chance.''
Hamilton, trying to become the first rookie champion and F1's youngest titleholder, was satisfied to start beside Massa in the front of the grid.
"Front row is what we needed,'' the 22-year-old Briton said.
Fifteen of the last 16 winners have started in the front row this season. In Interlagos, front-row starters have won every race since 2004.
Massa had an emotional victory in Interlagos last year, becoming the first Brazilian to win at home since the late Ayrton Senna in 1993.
"Hopefully we can finish in a similar situation as we finished last year,'' Massa said. ''It would for sure be another dream.''
The 26-year-old Brazilian earlier this week had his contract with Ferrari extended until 2010.
"Felipe wanted to make his mark in some way,'' Ferrari chief Jean Todt said, adding that Massa had set ''a fantastic pole.''