Gerhard Berger upstaged the Schumacher brothers in Saturday's qualifying for the German Grand Prix and won the pole position for his Formula One comeback.
The Austrian, who missed the previous three Grand Prix races because of sinus surgery, drove his Benetton-Renault to the fastest lap on the 4.093-mile Hockenheimring in a vintage display of speed and skill."The team needs a bit of success," said Berger, who is leaving Benetton when his two-year contract expires at the end of the season.
Berger, who will be 38 next month and is the oldest driver on the circuit, is without a team for next season and said recently that he might retire from auto racing.
Giancarlo Fisichella, the Italian who will replace Berger at Benetton-Renault next year, finished second and will share the front row of the starting grid Sunday.
Berger spoiled the home party of the brothers Michael and Ralf Schumacher, who had dominated Friday's free practice.
He set the pace early in the one-hour qualifying session, then eclipsed that time to improve to 1 minute, 41.873 seconds, for the fastest lap.
He was even faster at the end of the session but spun off in a curve.
"The car was completely right today but at the end I was pushing too hard," Berger said. "I am now confident for the race."
Berger gave Benetton its first pole position since 1995, when Michael Schumacher won the world championship with the team.
Fisichella drove his Jordan-Peugeot to within .023 seconds of Berger, clocking 1:41.896.
A veteran of 202 Formula One races, Berger has nine victories and gained his 12th pole position.