Friday First Free Practice - Chinese GP

BAR's Anthony Davidson finished fastest in the first ever Formula One session at the Shanghai International Circuit on Friday as Formula One hit the track in preparation for the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix.

Briton Davidson, in a blue and yellow BAR-Honda, set a time of 1:35.369 to finish 0.086 seconds faster than the Williams-BMW of Ralf Schumacher, returning from a six-race break following injury in the United States Grand Prix.

But the opening practice was disappointing for Michael Schumacher, who finished down in 15th place and was forced to walk back to his garage when his Ferrari stopped at the end of the pitlane two minutes from the end.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya finished third fastest in the second Williams, 0.392 seconds off the pace, with Brazilian Felipe Massa fourth in the lead Sauber and Toyota tester Ryan Briscoe, of Australia, in fifth.

Briton Jenson Button finished sixth fastest in the second BAR-Honda, running in traditional livery, with Brazilian Rubens Barrichello the fastest Ferrari down in seventh place, 1.291 seconds off the pace.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso finished eighth fastest for Renault with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, in the second Sauber, ninth and Brazilian Ricardo Zonta completing the top ten in his Toyota.

Belgian Bas Leinders was the first driver to take to the Shanghai track in his Minardi but it was Dutchman Robert Doornbos, drafted in by Jordan for the remaining three races, who set the first lap time ever.

Doornbos, who had not even started the engine of a Formula One car before stepping into the cockpit to replace promoted Friday tester Timo Glock in Shanghai, set a time of 1:44.466 to hit the top early.

With half the session gone Ferrari were on top thanks to Rubens Barrichello's 1:36.660 lap, which put him 0.305 seconds ahead of second-placed Montoya and more than half a second faster than team-mate Schumacher in third.

Jacques Villeneuve, in at Renault as replacement for Italian Jarno Trulli, had a difficult time on his return to the cockpit and finished well down the order after a spin five minutes before the end of the session.

Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Davidson BAR-Honda (M) 1:35.369 22 2. R.Schumacher Williams-BMW (M) 1:35.455 + 0.086 13 3. Montoya Williams-BMW (M) 1:35.761 + 0.392 13 4. Massa Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:36.086 + 0.717 12 5. Briscoe Toyota (M) 1:36.394 + 1.025 21 6. Button BAR-Honda (M) 1:36.475 + 1.106 11 7. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:36.660 + 1.291 14 8. Alonso Renault (M) 1:36.884 + 1.515 15 9. Fisichella Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:36.944 + 1.575 9 10. Zonta Toyota (M) 1:36.970 + 1.601 16 11. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:37.102 + 1.733 5 12. Wirdheim Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:37.142 + 1.773 19 13. Panis Toyota (M) 1:37.191 + 1.822 14 14. Villeneuve Renault (M) 1:37.240 + 1.871 20 15. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:37.300 + 1.931 11 16. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 1:37.438 + 2.069 9 17. Glock Jordan-Ford (B) 1:37.587 + 2.218 15 18. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:37.976 + 2.607 5 19. Heidfeld Jordan-Ford (B) 1:38.132 + 2.763 14 20. Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:38.504 + 3.135 15 21. Webber Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:38.761 + 3.392 11 22. Bruni Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:38.805 + 3.436 13 23. Doornbos Jordan-Ford (B) 1:39.244 + 3.875 23 24. Leinders Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:39.529 + 4.160 15 25. Baumgartner Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:42.795 + 7.426 12 All timing unofficial