Ferrari's [ Images ] Kimi Raikkonen [ Images ] took pole position for the European Grand Prix [ Images ] on Saturday in a qualifying session overshadowed by McLaren's [ Images ] championship leader Lewis Hamilton [ Images ] crashing heavily.

McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso [ Images ] will join the Finn on the front row with Brazilian Felipe Massa [ Images ] qualifying third for Ferrari.

Hamilton, 12 points clear of Alonso after nine successive podium finishes, forced a half hour halt to qualifying when his car ploughed into the tyre wall after leaving the track at around 260kph.

The Briton waved and gave a thumbs up sign as he was carried away on a stretcher, with an oxygen mask over his face and a drip inserted.

The team, who blamed a faulty air gun for the wheel working loose, said he was unhurt but would remain under observation for a few hours with his participation in the race uncertain.

If he does start, it will be from 10th place -- his lowest position of the season.

When the session resumed, there were just five minutes remaining for drivers to get in a quick lap and decide pole position. 

It was Raikkonen who made the most of the opportunity, lapping in 1:31.450 for the 13th pole of his career and second of the season.

It also left the Finn perfectly placed for his third win in a row after victories in France [ Images ] and Britain this month.

Raikkonen is third overall, 18 points behind Hamilton.

BMW Sauber's [ Images ] Nick Heidfeld [ Images ], whose wife gave birth to a son in the early hours of Saturday morning, qualified fourth before flying to Switzerland [ Images ] to be with his family, with Polish team mate Robert Kubica [ Images ] fifth.

Provisional qualifying result:

 1. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari one min 31.450 secs

 2. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren 1:31.741

3. Felipe Massa (Brazil [ Images ]) Ferrari 1:31.778

 4. Nick Heidfeld (Germany [ Images ]) BMW Sauber 1:31.840

 5. Robert Kubica (Poland) BMW Sauber 1:32.123

 6. Mark Webber [ Images ] (Australia [ Images ]) RedBull - Renault [ Images ] 1:32.476

 7. Heikki Kovalainen [ Images ] (Finland) Renault 1:32.478

 8. Jarno Trulli [ Images ] (Italy [ Images ]) Toyota [ Images ] 1:32.501

 9. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Toyota 1:32.570

 10. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren 1:33.833

 11. Nico Rosberg [ Images ] (Germany) Williams - Toyota 1:31.978

 12. Alexander Wurz (Austria) Williams - Toyota 1:31.996

 13. Giancarlo Fisichella [ Images ] (Italy) Renault 1:32.010

 14. Rubens Barrichello [ Images ] (Brazil) Honda 1:32.221

 15. Anthony Davidson [ Images ] (Britain) Super Aguri - Honda 1:32.451

 16. Takuma Sato [ Images ] (Japan [ Images ]) Super Aguri - Honda 1:32.838

 17. Jenson Button [ Images ] (Britain) Honda 1:32.983

 18. Scott Speed (U.S.) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:33.038

 19. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:33.148

 20. David Coulthard [ Images ] (Britain) RedBull - Renault 1:33.151

 21. Adrian Sutil [ Images ] (Germany) Spyker - Ferrari 1:34.500

 22. Markus Winkelhock (Germany) Spyker - Ferrari 1:35.940