Record-breaker Vettel takes pole
Sebastian Vettel will start the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix in pole position; the 15th time in 2011 he has qualified at the top of the grid.
Vettel saved his best for last as he stormed through with a sensational 1:11.918, although he appeared to be holding back during the middle part of his lap, and as the chequered flag was lowered there were jubilant scenes in the Red Bull garage as the world champion broke yet another record.
It will be an all-Red Bull front row after Mark Webber knocked McLaren's Jenson Button off the front row with his very last lap.
Button, however, will be happy as he has continually struggled for a good qualifying position at Interlagos and he will start from third alongside his McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso had to settle for the third row yet again as he posted the fifth fastest time of the afternoon. He will have the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg for company with Felipe Massa seventh ahead of Adrian Sutil in the Force India.
The home crowd gave Bruno Senna a rapturous reception as he qualified in ninth, beating seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who was happy to finish tenth.
After topping the timesheets in the final practice session, Vettel posted the fastest time in Q2 and it looked as though his 1:12.268 would be enough to take pole.
However, he refused to take anything for granted and as the clock ticked down to he crossed in 1:11.918 to storm to a record 15th pole position in a season.
In what could be his final grand prix, Rubens Barrichello missed out on the chance to reach Q3 but he produced a strong performance to qualify in 12th and any rain could see him finish in the points on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Paul di Resta had to settle for 11th in the Force India with Vitaly Petrov disappointing in 16th. - http://www.setanta.com
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