Friday First Free Practice - German GP

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello topped the times ahead of Jaguar's Spanish driver Pedro de la Rosa in the first practice session for the German Grand Prix.

Brazilian Barrichello, who won the German Grand Prix last year, was faster than David Coulthard, who finished third, and teammate Michael Schumacher, who was fourth. The session had started with Jordan's new race driver Ricardo Zonta leading a host of cars out as most of the field completed the first two sectors before coming in again.

Jos Verstappen was the first casualty of the session as his Arrows appeared to suffer a mechanical fault before he had set a competitive time. The Dutch driver was forced to pull over onto the grass at the exit of the Sachs section on his first flying lap.

De la Rosa set the early pace, but in posting his first quick time he went through the Senna chicane very hard and a small piece of his R2's chassis was ripped off as it hit the kerb.

Benetton driver Jenson Button once again appeared to struggle with the handling of his car and after his first flying lap the Briton spun at the exit of the Senna chicane. He was able to continue but came into the pits immediately so mechanics could make adjustments to the B201.

Button's teammate Giancarlo Fisichella was the last driver to set a time, barring the helpless Verstappen, but he came out at the mid-point of the session and immediately posted the 15th best time before later improving on that. In the latter stages of the session De la Rosa returned to the top of the times with a stunning lap, but Barrichello responded immediately to put his Ferrari back on top.

Coulthard also pushed hard to better his time, but he went over the limit and straight on at the Jim Clark chicane to ruin his chance while Schumacher went straight on at the Senna chicane to ruin his late lap.

Pos Driver Team Times 1. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:41.953 240.993 km/h 2. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:42.302 + 0.349 3. Coulthard Mclaren Mercedes (B) 1:42.621 + 0.668 4. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:42.826 + 0.873 5. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 1:42.987 + 1.034 6. Hakkinen Mclaren Mercedes (B) 1:42.994 + 1.041 7. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1:43.212 + 1.259 8. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:43.275 + 1.322 9. Fisichella Benetton Renault (M) 1:43.894 + 1.941 10. Trulli Jordan Honda (B) 1:43.970 + 2.017 11. Zonta Jordan Honda (B) 1:44.333 + 2.380 12. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 1:44.351 + 2.398 13. Raikkonen Sauber Petronas (B) 1:44.372 + 2.419 14. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 1:44.532 + 2.579 15. Panis BAR Honda (B) 1:44.616 + 2.663 16. Alesi Prost Acer (M) 1:45.151 + 3.198 17. Bernoldi Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:45.469 + 3.516 18. Burti Prost Acer (M) 1:45.767 + 3.814 19. Button Benetton Renault (M) 1:45.798 + 3.845 20. Alonso Minardi European (M) 1:46.627 + 4.674 21. Marques Minardi European (M) 1:47.292 + 5.339 22. Verstappen Arrows Asiatech (B) no time All Timing Unofficial