Magny-Cours, France (My Sportsbook) - Ferrari's Michael Schumacher captured the pole for Sunday's French Grand Prix Formula One race. The No.5 Ferrari driver circled the 2.756 miles, 16-turn road course in one minute, 15.493 seconds.

The pole victory was Schumacher's second in a row, fourth of the season and record 68th of his F1 career.

Starting on the front row with Schumacher will be his teammate Felipe Massa who posted a second-best time of 1:15.510.

Points leader Fernando Alonso (1:15.785) and Jarno Trulli (1:16.036) will make up row two.

The first session eliminated Takuma Sato, Franck Montagny, Tiago Monteiro, Jenson Button, Jacques Villeneuve and Vitantonio Liuzzi.

In the second qualifying session, Mark Webber, Nick Heidfeld, Christian Klien, Rubens Barrichello, American Scott Speed and Christian Albers were knocked out.

In the final qualifying session Pedro de la Rosa, in his first F1 start of 2006, grabbed the early lead. But Schumacher quickly put up the time to beat and no one could. On the final lap, Massa slid into second place and for the second consecutive race, Ferrari will "own" the front row.

When Formula One was last at Magny-Cours, Alonso was in perfect form. He won the pole and dominated the race. Not once, even during his three pit stops, did he yield the lead. In fact, he lapped the entire field up to third place Schumacher.

After the race, Alonso, on the way to his first World Championship, was ahead of Kimi Raikkonen by 24 points and Schumacher by 29 points.

Turn the clock ahead almost one year and Alonso's lead entering this weekend in 19 points over Schumacher and 45 over his Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella.

This despite Schumacher's second straight United States Grand Prix victory.

While his win in 2005 was marred by the failure of 14 cars to get to the starting grid due to a tire dispute, the 2006 win was a workman-like effort.

"Nineteen points can be bridged and I am convinced of this," said Schumacher.

However, at the Circuit de Nevers, Schumacher will have his work cut out for him because Michelin will bring a more aggressive tire than they brought to the U.S.G.P.

"There are a few high speed corners there, and you need good traction," Alonso said of the French circuit. "Both of those things are characteristics of the R26, so it will be a good circuit for us and for Michelin too I think."

The race is scheduled to begin on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. (et).