But it was not all plain sailing for Montoya, whose car stopped on the track while he was on his way back to the pits just seconds after the chequered flag had dropped on the penultimate practice session.

Montoya finished almost 0.2 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello with Schumacher third just fractions further adrift.

World champion Michael Schumacher, who was a lowly ninth in qualifying, finished fourth fastest today in the other Ferrari but almost 0.4secs off the pace.

McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen was next on the time sheets as the five title contenders filled the top five places.

Reigning champion Schumacher heads into his home race tomorrow leading Raikkonen by just seven points with Montoya seven points further adrift and only two ahead of his team-mate.

Barrichello is 20 points behind with five grands prix left.

Britain’s Justin Wilson – who was a stunning seventh on his Jagew car.

The 25-year-old Sheffield racer will still be one of the final cars out in final qualifying later as he bids to boost his chances of landing his maiden grand prix point this weekenen while Ralph Firman was 18th in a Jordan.