SINGAPORE — Ferrari's Felipe Massa edged title rival Lewis Hamilton of McLaren in qualifying today, taking the pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.

With overtaking expected to be difficult on the tight and bumpy track for F1's first ever night race on Sunday, Massa took a significant edge over the driver who leads him by one point in the drivers' championship.

With Hamilton sitting on the provisional pole in the dying seconds of qualifying, Massa put in a stunning final lap, setting a time nearly 0.6 seconds faster than the Briton — a significant margin in an otherwise closely contested session.

"The car was just perfect, so nice to drive," Massa said. "And I managed to do a perfect lap."

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen will start from third on the grid and BMW's Robert Kubica — still harboring slim hopes of a title challenge — from fourth.

It could have been much worse for Hamilton as he only just made it into the final part of qualifying after finishing 10th in the second session.

"It was a little bit nerve-racking for sure, but I still managed to get a spot on the front row," Hamilton said. "We are not worried, we are in a very strong position with the strategy we have."

Hamilton acknowledged he will be at a disadvantage starting on the side of the grid off the racing line, adding "we may see another Valencia." Massa started from pole and Hamilton second in the Aug. 24 European GP, and the Brazilian ran away with the race, finishing 5.6 seconds ahead of Hamilton.

Renault's Fernando Alonso spun his car late in the second session Saturday and complained on the radio about a mechanical problem. He emerged for the third session but his car lost drive and coasted to a stop. A frustrated Alonso, who will start from 15th, climbed out of the car.

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen will start from fifth on Sunday, sharing the third row with BMW's Nick Heidfeld.

Sebastian Vettel of Toro Rosso — winner of the previous race in Italy — was seventh in qualifying, while Toyota's Timo Glock will start from eighth.

The Williams pair of Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima will fill the fifth row. It was the first time in his debut season that Japan's Nakajima had made the final qualifying session.

Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella launched his car in practice through the air at the high curbs of turn 10, crashing heavily into a barrier.

After the car was hastily repaired by his crew for qualifying, Fisichella again crashed into a barrier on his first lap.