Friday First Free Practice - Canadian GP

David Coulthard and Rubens Barrichello turned in the fastest laps of the opening free practice for the Canadian Grand Prix, knocking defending champion Michael Schumacher off the top spot in the final seconds.

Jacques Villeneuve crashed hard Friday but walked away without injury. The Canadian-born driver's car slid off track and clipped the nose off his BAR Honda. His team prepared his spare car for the afternoon practice.

"It seems like something broke on the car or Jacques made a mistake. These things happen," said BAR boss Craig Pollock.

Coulthard is working hard to catch Schumacher in the Formula One championship battle. He recorded a lap of 1:18.763 seconds on the 2.747-mile Circuit Gilles Villeneuve moments before the checkered flag flew for the first of two Friday practice.

Before a large crowd enjoying nearly cloudless skies, Ferrari's Barrichello followed the McLaren driver across the finish line. He was timed in 1:19.140, relegating Schumacher's Ferrari to third at 1:19.166. Mika Hakkinen, Coulthard's teammate, was fourth at 1:19.569, followed by Oliver Panis, Villeneuve's BAR teammate, at 1:20.119.

Williams drivers Ralf Schumacher and rookie Juan Pablo Montoya, both expected to contend, were ninth and 10th, respectively, in the unofficial session. Michael Schumacher's younger brother produced a fast lap of 1:20.665, while Montoya, the 1999 CART champion and last year's Indianapolis 500 winner, was at 1:20.822.

Villeneuve's fastest lap before the crash was 1:21.916. Arrows driver Jos Vertstappen was unable to set a time due to a mechanical failure.

Pos Driver Team Times 1. Coulthard Mclaren Mercedes (B) 1:18.763 202.069 km/h 2. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:19.140 + 0.377 3. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:19.166 + 0.403 4. Hakkinen Mclaren Mercedes (B) 1:19.569 + 0.806 5. Panis BAR Honda (B) 1:20.119 + 1.356 6. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 1:20.378 + 1.615 7. Trulli Jordan Honda (B) 1:20.513 + 1.750 8. Raikkonen Sauber Petronas (B) 1:20.515 + 1.752 9. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 1:20.665 + 1.902 10. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1:20.822 + 2.059 11. Frentzen Jordan Honda (B) 1:20.909 + 2.146 12. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:21.046 + 2.283 13. Alesi Prost Acer (M) 1:21.412 + 2.649 14. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:21.622 + 2.859 15. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 1:21.916 + 3.153 16. Fisichella Benetton Renault (M) 1:22.016 + 3.253 17. Bernoldi Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:22.337 + 3.574 18. Burti Prost Acer (M) 1:22.696 + 3.933 19. Button Benetton Renault (M) 1:22.816 + 4.053 20. Alonso Minardi European (M) 1:32.967 + 14.204 21. Marques Minardi European (M) 1:35.472 + 16.709 22. Verstappen Arrows Asiatech (B) no time All Timing Unofficial