Schumacher fastest in morning practice

The championship leader had been fastest in yesterday's session, but was a second off the pace of the McLarens in the first practice this morning.

His team-mate Rubens Barrichello also made progress, moving up from 14th in the first session to third later on.

The McLarens were second and fourth, David Coulthard again ending up faster than Mika Hakkinen.

Ralf Schumacher has looked fast ever since pre-race testing and the Williams star again proved to be the closest challenger to the top teams in fifth place.

He was followed by the two Jordans, despite Heinz-Harald Frentzen stopping on circuit at the end of the session, and home hero Pedro de la Rosa, whose Arrows looks extremely competitive this weekend.

Qualifying begins in just under two hours.

Practice times from Barcelona:

1 M Schumacher Ferrari 1m21.088s
2 D Coulthard McLaren 1m21.370s
3 R Barrichello Ferrari 1m21.372s
4 M Hakkinen McLaren 1m21.593s
5 R Schumacher Williams 1m21.604s
6 J Trulli Jordan 1m21.911s
7 H-H Frentzen Jordan 1m22.162s
8 P de la Rosa Arrows 1m22.206s
9 J Villeneuve BAR 1m22.386s
10 J Button Williams 1m22.465s
11 J Verstappen Arrows 1m22.468s
12 G Fisichella Benetton 1m22.493s
13 J Herbert Jaguar 1m22.605s
14 E Irvine Jaguar 1m22.642s
15 M Salo Sauber 1m22.749s
16 N Heidfeld Prost 1m22.810s
17 J Alesi Prost 1m22.815s
18 A Wurz Benetton 1m22.944s
19 P Diniz Sauber 1m23.173s
20 M Gene Minardi 1m23.644s
21 R Zonta BAR 1m23.942s
22 G Mazzacane Minardi 1m24.866s