JENSON BUTTON'S pole position for this morning's Australian Grand Prix marked the first time since 1968, when 'Big' John Surtees was fastest in practice for the Italian GP at Monza, that a Honda has been at the head of a starting grid.

Doubtless the historical aspects of his success occupied the 26 year-old Briton's thoughts for far less time than did the significance of his achievement, and Hondapowered Williams, McLaren and BAR cars have taken many pole positions in the intervening years. But this success came just as it was beginning to seem as if the team's pre-season optimism might have been misplaced as Renault again got the jump on everyone in Bahrain and Malaysia. It may yet transpire that Honda chose to run Button with a lighter fuel load than either Renault driver Giancarlo Fisichella or Fernando Alonso, but it was a timely boost. Can Button win at last? It's become almost too embarrassing a matter to raise with him. He is as sick of the question as others are of asking it.

"Hopefully we will be competitive here, " he said with measured tone at the start of the weekend. "We've had some issues with driveability via our traction control which we will have fully resolved by Imola, but we also have a very good tyre choice for here in the cooler conditions and I still think that Michelin is the better tyre right now.

"If we cannot win, then we at least always want to be on the podium, " he added. "The biggest thing is that it is so competitive now that you cannot afford to have any mistakes in the weekend, so I am looking forward to a troublefree run."

Qualifying was twice interrupted, first when rookie Yuji Ide spun, then when Felipe Massa crashed his Ferrari.

A rain shower hurt Michael Schumacher's prospects, and even Button has been offtrack a little more than one has come to expect. But when it mattered he did the business, and he was very pleased about it.

"It's a fantastic feeling to be on pole here after such a manic qualifying session."

Alongside Button will be Fisichella in the Renault with the Italian's teammate Alonso and the McLaren of Kimi Raikkonen filling the second row positions.