Saturday First Free Practice - US GP

World champion Mika Hakkinen set the fastest lap in Saturday's opening free practice for Sunday's United States Grand Prix.

The Finn clocked 1:15.802 in slightly damp conditions in his McLaren at the end of the 45-minute first session on the sprawling Indianapolis 'speedway' circuit.

Jenson Button was just 0.1 of a second behind in his Williams, with fellow Briton David Coulthard third in the second McLaren.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello was fourth best ahead of his Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher.

Areas of standing water covered the track after overnight rain, but warm weather meant conditions gradually improved during the session.

Three drivers went off -- Ralf Schumacher in a Williams, his compatriot Heinz-Harald Frentzen in a Jordan and Austrian Alexander Wurz in a Benetton. They were all able to continue.

Pos Driver Team Times 1. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 1:15.802 199.230 km/h 2. Button Williams BMW 1:15.941 + 0.139 3. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:16.212 + 0.410 4. Barrichello Ferrari 1:16.261 + 0.459 5. M.Schumacher Ferrari 1:16.368 + 0.566 6. Fisichella Benetton Playlife 1:16.529 + 0.727 7. Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:16.565 + 0.763 8. R.Schumacher Williams BMW 1:16.625 + 0.823 9. Verstappen Arrows Supertec 1:16.705 + 0.903 10. Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:16.954 + 1.152 11. Salo Sauber Petronas 1:17.089 + 1.287 12. Alesi Prost Peugeot 1:17.113 + 1.311 13. Heidfeld Prost Peugeot 1:17.178 + 1.376 14. Wurz Benetton Playlife 1:17.198 + 1.396 15. Zonta BAR Honda 1:17.253 + 1.451 16. Trulli Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:17.653 + 1.851 17. de la Rosa Arrows Supertec 1:17.731 + 1.929 18. Villeneuve BAR Honda 1:17.927 + 2.125 19. Mazzacane Minardi Fondmetal 1:18.500 + 2.698 20. Gene Minardi Fondmetal 1:18.532 + 2.730 21. Herbert Jaguar Cosworth 1:18.719 + 2.917 22. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth 1:18.907 + 3.105 All timing unofficial