Mitch Evans scored a crucial pole position that extended his championship lead at Monza on Saturday morning.
The Kiwi's fourth pole of the year means he can clinch the title in today's first race at the season finale, having outpaced his nearest rival Antonio Felix da Costa by 0.02sec to claim the four points on offer.
Evans extends his lead to 25.5 points. Da Costa had been fastest earlier in the session, and would have got the gap down to 17.5 if he'd held on.
David Fumanelli was third fastest, ahead of Matias Laine to make it all three MW Arden cars in the top four places, with da Costa's Carlin machine the only interloper.
Tio Ellinas will start fifth, a great comeback after electrical problems in practice, ahead of Tamas Pal Kiss, Will Buller, Daniel Abt and Conor Daly. The third title contender, Aaro Vainio, was a disappointing 13th for Lotus.
In terms of on-track incidents, Kevin Ceccon rear-ended Patric Niederhauser at the Roggia chicane. Da Costa was also involved in a weird moment when he pulled off the racing line to find a gap exiting the Lesmos, only for those around him to likewise check-up and almost cause an accident behind them.
Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Mitch Evans MW Arden 1m43.542s
2. Antonio Felix da Costa Carlin 1m43.562s + 0.020s
3. David Fumanelli MW Arden 1m43.897s + 0.355s
4. Matias Laine MW Arden 1m43.903s + 0.361s
5. Tio Ellinas Manor 1m44.105s + 0.563s
6. Tamas Pal Kiss Atech CRS 1m44.186s + 0.644s
7. Will Buller Carlin 1m44.273s + 0.731s
8. Daniel Abt Lotus 1m44.371s + 0.829s
9. Conor Daly Lotus 1m44.433s + 0.891s
10. Patric Niederhauser Jenzer 1m44.452s + 0.910s
11. Giovanni Venturini Trident 1m44.516s + 0.974s
12. Robert Visoiu Jenzer 1m44.600s + 1.058s
13. Aaro Vainio Lotus 1m44.668s + 1.126s
14. Dmitry Suranovich Manor 1m44.860s + 1.318s
15. Robert Cregan Ocean 1m44.903s + 1.361s
16. Marlon Stockinger Status 1m44.943s + 1.401s
17. Lewis Williamson Status 1m44.960s + 1.418s
18. Fabiano Machado Manor 1m45.030s + 1.488s
19. Alex Brundle Carlin 1m45.056s + 1.514s
20. John Wartique Atech CRS 1m45.165s + 1.623s
21. Kevin Ceccon Ocean 1m45.213s + 1.671s
22. Alice Powell Status 1m45.303s + 1.761s
23. Vicky Piria Trident 1m45.659s + 2.117s
24. Ethan Ringel Atech CRS 1m46.911s + 3.369s
25. Carmen Jorda Ocean 1m49.400s + 5.858s