Nick Heidfeld hailed his "perfect day" after claiming the first pole position of his Formula One career on home ground at the Nurburgring.

Heidfeld, who was born just 70 miles from the track in Monchegladbach, will start Sunday's European Grand Prix from the front after a blistering lap in qualifying.

After his first pole in 91 attempts, he said: "It is fantastic to have my first pole position in Formula One, finally, after so many years."

Williams took advantage of a change in the qualifying format, which sees one flying lap with race fuel on Saturday, to take a fuel gamble and earn top spot in BMW's home race.

The Ocean Springs-based crew of Scott Carroll, Todd Lipps and Johnny Jones had a two-fish total of 104.85 pounds. Stretched Out was in second place at 77.50 pounds and Reel Pressure was in third place at 72.60 pounds.

The boats are allowed to weigh two cobia each day and the boat with the heaviest, three-day total is the winner.

"The seas were pretty calm and we were able to run out there pretty good," Carroll said. "There was a two-foot swell every now and then. The fish were popping right on top of the water. They were coming out from underneath the rigs when we tied up to them."