Downpour spoils second session
Horrendous weather conditions in the second practice session at Silverstone left Heinz-Harald Frentzen still at the top of the timesheets at the end of the first day of the British Grand Prix
Frentzen was fastest in the morning, and conditions were too bad for anyone bar Ralf Schumacher and Johnny Herbert (neither of whom had been able to set a time this morning) to improve their pace.
Schumacher managed to set the 15th quickest time by getting out on track just before a huge downpour left Silverstone under water. He had missed this morning's practice after an electrical failure stranded his Williams in the pit lane exit.
Most drivers came out on track to work on wet weather settings, but even Michael Schumacher was up to 30s off the pace as he battled through the spray and puddles.
Jean Alesi stayed out longer than anyone else, spectacular as ever as he survived three spins before finally stalling after a pirouette in the complex.
Gaston Mazzacane had a massive spin into the Becketts gravel, while Ricardo Zonta ended his session in the Club gravel trap after his second off. Jenson Button also had a brief pirouette on his final lap.
The session was reduced by ten minutes after the red flag had to be flown for a bizarre incident involving a safety truck. The vehicle became bogged down on the grass next to the Hangar Straight while en route to rescue David Coulthard's stranded McLaren.
Coulthard had slowed to a halt and pulled onto the grass, then changed his mind and drove back onto the edge of the tarmac before stopping.
Also in trouble was Pedro de la Rosa, who missed the start of the session with a gearbox problem.
The forecast looks better for tomorrow, no rain is expected and there may even be sunny intervals. The wet conditions are likely to return by Sunday however.
Times from Friday practice:
1 H-H Frentzen Jordan 1m27.683s
2 E Irvine Jaguar 1m28.169s
3 D Coulthard McLaren 1m28.525s
4 M Hakkinen McLaren 1m28.659s
5 J Trulli Jordan 1m28.705s
6 J Villeneuve BAR 1m28.845s
7 R Barrichello Ferrari 1m29.083s
8 A Wurz Benetton 1m29.111s
9 G Fisichella Benetton 1m29.214s
10 M Gene Minardi 1m29.557s
11 J Button Williams 1m29.775s
12 P Diniz Sauber 1m30.214s
13 P de la Rosa Arrows 1m30.279s
14 J Verstappen Arrows 1m30.313s
15 R Schumacher Williams 1m30.593s
16 M Salo Sauber 1m30.643s
17 J Alesi Prost 1m30.656s
18 N Heidfeld Prost 1m31.006s
19 G Mazzacane Minardi 1m31.250s
20 R Zonta BAR 1m31.322s
21 M Schumacher Ferrari 1m36.425s
22 J Herbert Jaguar 1m39.690s
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