Singapore (Sports Network) - Ferrari's Felipe Massa won the pole Saturday for the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix, beating McLaren's Lewis Hamilton in the final seconds of the third and final qualifying session. The Brazilian driver rounded the 3.148-mile Singapore Street Circuit in one minute, 44.801 seconds.

It was Massa's fifth Formula One pole of the season and the 14th of his career.

"The car was just perfect and so nice to drive," Massa said. "I managed to do a perfect lap so that always helps when I have a good car and don't make any single mistakes in whatever corner you go."

Hamilton will start on the outside pole after posting a time of 1:45.456.

"Fortunately we got through and managed to still secure a good spot on the front row, but obviously not as smooth sailing as some other people," Hamilton said.

Hamilton almost missed the third session. He finished 0.10 seconds ahead of Jarno Trulli for the 10th and final transfer spot in Q3. Hamilton enters the first-ever F1 night-time event with only a one-point lead over Massa in the World Championship standings.

The FIA's International Court of Appeal on Tuesday denied Hamilton's appeal to overturn a 25-second penalty that cost him the victory in the Belgian Grand Prix earlier this month.

Hamilton appeared before a five-judge panel in Paris on Monday to contest the timed penalty that was assessed to the British driver by race stewards at Spa- Francorchamps after he gained an advantage by cutting a chicane while battling Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen for the lead in the final laps.

McLaren officials filed an appeal two weeks ago on the grounds their driver had relinquished the lead back to Raikkonen immediately following the incident. However, the court rejected McLaren's right to appeal.

"Having heard the explanations of the parties, the Court has concluded that the appeal is inadmissible," the FIA stated in their decision.

The FIA also noted, "Article 152 of the International Sporting Code states that drive-through penalties are 'not susceptible to appeal'."

Defending F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen (1:45.617) and Robert Kubica (1:45.779) will make up row two.

The forecast at race time calls for rain. Two weeks ago, Torro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel survived wet track conditions at Monza to capture the Italian Grand Prix. The 21-year-old German driver became the youngest grand prix winner in the history of F1. Vettel will start seventh.

The race begins Sunday at 8 a.m. (et).