Schumi blames Monaco track

MONACO GRID POSITIONS 1 J Trulli (Renault) 1:13.985 2 J Button (BAR) 1:14.396 3 F Alonso (Ren) 1:14.408 4 M Schumacher (Fer) 1:14.516 5 K Raikkonen (McL) 1:14.592 6 R Barrichello (Fer) 01:14.716 7 T Sato (BAR) 1:14.827 8 D Coulthard (McL) 01:14.951 R Schumacher second but drops 10 places for engine change Monaco qualifying report More qualifying photos

Michael Schumacher said a slippery track cost him the chance to qualify on the front row at the Monaco Grand Prix.

"This qualifying session was a little bit disappointing," said Schumacher, who is chasing a sixth straight win.

"That was the result of a difficult pre-qualifying when I found the track to be very slippery. It meant I had to make my second run very early.

"That certainly didn't help. I'll be starting from fourth and we must try to get the best out of the situation."

It was the first time Schmacher had failed to qualify on the front row this season.

The world champion had been overwhelming favourite to claim pole after topping the timesheets in all four practice sessions.

He improved from 14th in pre-qualifying to fifth, and brother Ralf's penalty for changing engines on Thursday promoted him to fourth.

Trulli eyes first win

The Ferrari driver will start alongside Renault's Fernando Alonso, with polesitter Jarno Trulli and BAR's Jenson Button ahead of him.

Overtaking is notoriously difficult at Monaco, and Ralf Schumacher predicted a difficult race for his brother.

"He is a fighter and simply one of the best drivers of the moment, but if the car does not allow him to go fast he can't," he said.

"He can fight as much as he wants to - it's going to be difficult."