CANBERRA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Finn driver Kimi Raikkonen took pole position for Ferrari on Sunday in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne Saturday.

    World champion Fernando Alonso in McLaren was second while German Nick Heidfeld with BMW-Sauber will start from third spot on the inside of the second row.

    It was Raikkonen's 13th career pole and he will be chasing his 10th GP win in Sunday's season-opening race around the Albert Park street circuit.

    Raikkonen, who was brought in by Ferrari this season to replace retired seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher, clocked one minute 26.072 seconds and has been the fastest driver in practice and qualifying this week.

    Alonso, who won back-to-back world drivers' titles with Renault before switching to McLaren, will start alongside Raikkonen on the front row of the grid after his 1:26.493.

    Heidfeld claimed the inside of the second row with his best effort of 1:26.556.