The Spaniard and his Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella finished first and second to secure a lockout of the front row of the grid while rivals Ferrari struggled and were outclassed in Saturday's rain-hit session.

The 25-year-old Alonso claimed the 15th pole position of his career while his nearest rival in this year's title race, Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, took sixth position.

"It was great, we were fastest in all three sessions and we are very competitive and we took full advantage in the wet conditions," said Alonso, who has a two-point lead over Schumacher with three races remaining in the season.

"I am very confident because we are competitive if it is wet or dry."

Alonso credited his position to Renault's tyre suppliers Michelin which out-performed rivals Bridgestone comprehensively in the wet.

"Of course, I am confident, but I must thank the team and Michelin for the tyres because they have given us a tyre that is unbeatable in the wet."

Seven-times champion Schumacher, who retires at the end of this season, was the only Bridgestone driver to finish in the top ten.

The 37-year-old German said he was disappointed.

"Definitely, we are too slow and this is very obvious. In those weather conditions, we are simply not competitive. It's the best we could do," he said.

Schumacher, who has yet to finish higher than 12th in Shanghai, said he remained optimistic he could still come from behind on Sunday, and go on to win the drivers' championship.

"I am sixth, not 20th, so I will try and go as far as possible. There is no question. If we don't win then there are still two races to go," he said.

"I don't think this qualifying session has compromised my chances of winning the world championship.

"Apart from tomorrow's race, there are still two more Grands Prix to go so everything is still possible."

Alonso said he might have a slight psychological advantage over Schumacher because the German wants to retire on a winning note.

"Who knows?" he said. "I am very confident and I am not retiring at the end of the year. I have a lot of races and a lot of championships ahead of me to fight and so I can do the last three races as usual -- to try and to win. I don't have any pressures other than that."

Schumacher and Ferrari have a huge disadvantage going into Sunday's race as his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa was hampered by a ten-places penalty for changing his engine on Friday, and so was relegated to the back of the grid.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello has claimed third position, ahead of his Honda teammate Jenson Button.

Finn Kimi Raikkonen was fifth for McLaren Mercedes-Honda and his teammate Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa was seventh, behind Schumacher.