Free practice 3: Schumachers to the fore

Ralf Schumacher made it another family affair at the top of the timesheets in the soporific session. The Williams-BMW driver posted a time some 0.4 seconds slower than his older brother as Indianapolis debutants Michelin began to come on song, but had to work hard to keep the spot from the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello.

Mika Hakkinen was the quickest of the McLaren-Mercedes pair, but lagged a full 0.6 seconds behind Michael Schumacher's best effort. The Finn had headed the timesheets at the start of the session, but was unable to come back as the Ferrari and Williams cars improved their times. David Coulthard took fifth, but his best effort of 1m12.724s left him playing catch-up to Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher, who still threaten the Scot's second position in the title chase.

Juan Pablo-Montoya took sixth position despite a late spin caused by excessive oversteer, narrowly heading out the ever-improving Benetton-Renault of Jenson Button by just 0.1 seconds. Button and team mate Giancarlo Fisichella sandwiched the lead Sauber of Nick Heidfeld in eighth place.

Jarno Trulli posted the best time for Jordan and for Honda, just edging out the second Sauber of Kimi Raikkonen for the last top 10 slot, while team-mate Jean Alesi was a disappointing 13th quickest. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was the quickest Prost-Acer driver in 14th place, ahead of the Jaguars of Pedro de la Rosa and Eddie Irvine.

Jacques Villeneuve had a torrid time in his BAR-Honda, comprehensively outpaced by team mate Olivier Panis in 18th position, and nearly a second down on the Frenchman. Jos Verstappen was also a surprise 20th on the timesheets, the Dutchman not able to make best advantage of his slippery Arrows-Asiatech, and only edging out the two European Minardis of Fernando Alonso and Alex Yoong.

For full practice session 3 results, click here.