Button claims pole position in Australia

MELBOURNE, Apr 1 (Reuters) Britain's Jenson Button set the fastest time in today's qualifying session to claim pole position for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

The Honda driver lapped the picturesque Albert Park circuit in one minute 25.229 seconds to take the front spot on the starting grid for only the third time in his career.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, who won last year's Australian Grand Prix, joins Button on the front row for Sunday's race after recording the second best time of 1:25.635 in his Renault.

Fisichella's team mate, Spanish world champion Fernando Alonso, was third overall, followed by the McLaren pair of Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher was 11th in his Ferrari after taking pole for the season-opening round in Bahrain.

REUTERS PM RK1020