Controversial Schumacher on pole in Monaco

MONACO, May 27 (Reuters) Ferrari's Michael Schumacher will start tomorrow's Monaco Grand Prix on pole position with Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso alongside him on the front row.

Schumacher, who could equal Brazilian Ayrton Senna's record of six wins in the Mediterranean principality, claimed his 67th career pole in controversial circumstances.

The seven times world champion ran wide and stopped on the exit to the penultimate corner in the closing seconds of the final session, with Alonso and others still to complete their final flying laps behind him.

Furious Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said it looked like Schumacher had done it on purpose.

''He's just parking the car,'' Briatore told ITV television.

''This is the way Ferrari manage.'' Australian Mark Webber was third fastest for Williams with McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, last year's winner, fourth.

Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella starts on the third row with McLaren's Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, the 2003 winner.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa will start at the back of the grid after crashing in the first part of qualifying.

The Brazilian speared left into the tyre barrier on the blind crest of Casino Square, briefly stopping the session while the car was removed from the track.

REUTERS PG BST1913