McLaren search for silver lining in disappointment

NUERBURGRING, Germany, May 6 (Reuters) McLaren were left searching for a silver lining after today's disappointing qualifying that left Kimi Raikkonen in the third row and Juan Pablo Montoya back in ninth place for the European Grand Prix.

Hoping for a good show in front of the home crowd of engine partners Mercedes, the team still referred to in Germany as the ''silver arrows'' were well off the pace for Sunday's race.

''This is not what we were hoping for,'' said Finland's Raikkonen, who led at the Nuerburgring a year ago but crashed on the last lap following a tyre failure. He will start in fifth place tomorrow.

''We've got to show improvements in every race and every test,'' he added. ''I hope that we can figure something out sooner or later.

''I'm happy with the result as we were not entirely comfortable with the car in the Friday practice sessions,'' added Raikkonen.

Team mate Montoya was not happy with anything though.

''This was not a great lap for me as I was struggling with the set up of the car. I don't like this circuit,'' the Colombian said.

McLaren had come to Germany with podium hopes riding high after Montoya was third at San Marino two weeks ago and Raikkonen was fifth. Raikkonen is third in the drivers' standings and Montoya fifth.

''Certainly not the places on the grid we aimed for,'' Mercedes boss Norbert Haug said. ''We'll have to see whether our strategy will pay off.'' Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso took his first pole of the season ahead of Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, who is appearing in front of his home crowd.

REUTERS PM KN2252