Massa claims pole as Hamilton struggles

(CNN) -- Felipe Massa claimed pole for his home Brazilian Grand Prix as title rival and championship leader Lewis Hamilton could only qualify fourth fastest at Interlagos on Saturday.

Ferrari's Massa posted a time of one minute 12.368 seconds to delight the massed ranks of his supporters, who are hoping he can become the first Brazilian since the great Ayrton Senna 17 years ago to win the Formula One world crown.

"These people are amazing, my Ferrari team is fantastic and my family and friends are here too to make me feel this is so really special for me," Massa told the Associated Press.

Massa trails Hamilton by seven points going into the final round and the McLaren star did his cause little favor with a lackluster one minute 12.830 seconds to be back on the second row.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli of Italy claimed a surprise second spot in the final qualifying duel with Massa's teammate and reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen in third.

It's the sixth pole of the year for Massa, who has doggedly pursued Hamilton in the title race.

If Massa wins, he needs Hamilton to finish sixth or lower to pip him for the title.

He will be heartened by last year's race at Sao Paulo where Hamilton blew the same seven-point lead.

A mistake in the first lap and then a gear problem led to a seventh-place finish -- good only for second in the standings, behind Raikkonen.

The Briton, who can become the youngest at 23 and first black champion in Formula One, said he was unconcerned by Massa qualifying on pole.

"That's where he needs to be," he told ITV Sport.

"I just need to focus on my job. I don't need to do anything spectacular, I just need to bring the car home with some good points."

Hamilton's teammate Heikki Kovalainen will start fifth on the grid alongside Renault's former two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who has won two of the last three races.