Friday First Free Practice - British GP

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello kicked off his British Grand Prix weekend in style when he bettered World Champion Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher by a narrow margin to top the opening practice at Silverstone on Friday.

Schumacher hit the number one spot early in the session as clouds gathered to cover the previously blue sky but Barrichello, who won the race last year, eventually bettered his time to lead the field.

Barrichello's lap of 1:19.138 put him 0.076 seconds ahead of Schumacher with Williams pair Juan Pablo Montoya and Marc Gene third and fourth, 0.364 and 0.549 behind Barrichello respectively.

Briton Anthony Davidson, as usual on a Friday, finished as the best of his BAR-Honda team but he was a disappointing 0.610 seconds slower than the scarlet Italian duo in fifth place.

David Coulthard, who won in Britain in 1999 and 2000, finished sixth in his McLaren-Mercedes with teammate Kimi Raikkonen sandwiching the Sauber pair of sixth-placed Giancarlo Fisichella and seventh-placed Felipe Massa.

Briton Jenson Button, who has switched from a Union Jack to a St. Georges Flag-based helmet design this weekend, is hoping to score his maiden win on home ground this weekend but could only finish 10th for BAR-Honda.

Montoya almost spun his car when he slithered through the high-speed Maggots curve but he controlled the mistake well and continued after a brief trip across the run-off area.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso ended his session early, driving his Renault off the track at Stowe with a mechanical failure after 40 minutes. Italian Fisichella parked his Sauber on the start-finish straight with six minutes remaining.

Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:19.138 16 2. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:19.214 + 0.076 25 3. Montoya Williams-BMW (M) 1:19.502 + 0.364 13 4. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:19.687 + 0.549 14 5. Davidson BAR-Honda (M) 1:19.748 + 0.610 23 6. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:20.021 + 0.883 6 7. Massa Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:20.430 + 1.292 17 8. Fisichella Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:20.446 + 1.308 10 9. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:20.633 + 1.495 5 10. Button BAR-Honda (M) 1:20.866 + 1.728 8 11. Zonta Toyota (M) 1:21.095 + 1.957 27 12. Wirdheim Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:21.277 + 2.139 24 13. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 1:21.285 + 2.147 13 14. Webber Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:21.520 + 2.382 6 15. Trulli Renault (M) 1:21.792 + 2.654 13 16. Alonso Renault (M) 1:22.003 + 2.865 5 17. Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:22.279 + 3.141 11 18. da Matta Toyota (M) 1:22.466 + 3.328 16 19. Panis Toyota (M) 1:22.520 + 3.382 15 20. Pantano Jordan-Ford (B) 1:22.664 + 3.526 20 21. Heidfeld Jordan-Ford (B) 1:22.716 + 3.578 20 22. Glock Jordan-Ford (B) 1:23.149 + 4.011 23 23. Bruni Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:23.663 + 4.525 19 24. Baumgartner Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:23.715 + 4.577 20 25. Leinders Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:24.887 + 5.749 18 All timing unofficial