Friday First Free Practice - European GP

Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello turned on the Brazilian style as he mastered the overcast and damp conditions to claim fastest time in Friday's opening practice for the European Grand Prix.

Barrichello, no doubt delighted by his team's World Cup victory over England before practice began, set a best lap of 1:33.665 to lead a Ferrari one-two, with teammate Michael Schumacher 0.103 seconds behind.

German Nick Heidfeld was fourth for Sauber in the drizzle-hit hour-long session which seemed to suit the Bridgestone runners, with Scot Allan McNish, in the Toyota, the first Michelin runner in a surprise fourth. Brazilian Felipe Massa was fifth in the second Sauber, with Briton David Coulthard, of McLaren-Mercedes, fifth quickest.

German Heinz-Harald Frentzen, of Arrows, was seventh, 11 places ahead of his Brazilian teammate Enrique Bernoldi, who spun out into the tyre barrier at turn six half way through the session.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was eighth fastest for Jordan, with Finn Mika Salo, in the second Toyota ninth, and Juan Pablo Montoya, in the first of the Williams-BMW cars completing the top ten.

Briton Jenson Button was down in 15th for Renault, three places behind his Italian teammate Jarno Trulli.

Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:33.665 197.709 km/h 16 2. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:33.768 + 0.103 15 3. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 1:34.924 + 1.259 22 4. McNish Toyota (M) 1:34.941 + 1.276 19 5. Massa Sauber Petronas (B) 1:34.982 + 1.317 24 6. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes (M) 1:35.021 + 1.356 15 7. Frentzen Arrows Cosworth (B) 1:35.880 + 2.215 18 8. Fisichella Jordan Honda (B) 1:35.921 + 2.256 15 9. Salo Toyota (M) 1:35.958 + 2.293 16 10. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1:36.033 + 2.368 20 11. Panis BAR Honda (B) 1:36.045 + 2.380 27 12. Trulli Renault (M) 1:36.054 + 2.389 18 13. Sato Jordan Honda (B) 1:36.072 + 2.407 12 14. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 1:36.417 + 2.752 21 15. Button Renault (M) 1:36.520 + 2.855 20 16. Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes (M) 1:36.734 + 3.069 9 17. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 1:37.047 + 3.382 22 18. Bernoldi Arrows Cosworth (B) 1:37.186 + 3.521 12 19. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:37.329 + 3.664 24 20. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:37.849 + 4.184 20 21. Webber Minardi Asiatech (M) 1:37.921 + 4.256 16 22. Yoong Minardi Asiatech (M) 1:39.659 + 5.994 21 All Timing Unofficial