Friday First Free Practice - Hungarian GP

Michael Schumacher topped the timesheets in first free practice as McLaren rival David Coulthard brought the session to a halt on Friday after hitting a kerb and scattering debris across the track.

The Scot, whose almost extinguished Championship hopes could be finally snuffed out by Ferrari's Schumacher on Sunday, smashed his rear diffuser with five minutes of the hour to run. The practice was then stopped to clear the track and retrieve Coulthard's stranded car.

Schumacher, who could secure his fourth Formula One world title this weekend with a record-equalling 51st win, and Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello dominated the timesheets. Schumacher was fastest in 1:16.995 ahead of Barrichello in 1:17.290 and the McLarens of Mika Hakkinen and Coulthard in 1:17.606 and 1:18.182 respectively.

The times compared to Schumacher's 2000 pole of 1:17.514.

France's Jean Alesi earlier provided one of the highlights, or low points for team owner Eddie Jordan, when he dumped his car in the gravel after just four laps of his competitive debut with Jordan. Alesi skidded at turn 13 of the tight and twisting Hungaroring and slid backwards into the gravel trap with just 17 minutes gone.

The 37-year-old, who moved from Prost to replace the sacked German Heinz-Harald Frentzen, climbed out of the car and removed his helmet before walking back to the Jordan pits in the searing heat. Frentzen, who has moved to Prost for the last five races, made the most of his first real drive in the Ferrari-powered car by lapping faster than Brazilian teammate Luciano Burti and Alesi.

The German's time of 1:21.540 compared to Burti's 1:21.986 and Alesi's 1:21.590.

Pos Driver Team Times 1. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:16.995 185.856 km/h 2. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:17.290 + 0.295 3. Hakkinen Mclaren Mercedes (B) 1:17.606 + 0.611 4. Coulthard Mclaren Mercedes (B) 1:18.182 + 1.187 5. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 1:18.456 + 1.461 6. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 1:18.851 + 1.856 7. Trulli Jordan Honda (B) 1:19.430 + 2.435 8. Panis BAR Honda (B) 1:19.460 + 2.465 9. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 1:19.707 + 2.712 10. Raikkonen Sauber Petronas (B) 1:19.971 + 2.976 11. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:19.996 + 3.001 12. Fisichella Benetton Renault (M) 1:20.308 + 3.313 13. Verstappen Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:20.706 + 3.711 14. Button Benetton Renault (M) 1:20.935 + 3.940 15. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:21.204 + 4.209 16. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1:21.211 + 4.216 17. Bernoldi Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:21.324 + 4.329 18. Frentzen Prost Acer (M) 1:21.540 + 4.545 19. Alesi Jordan Honda (B) 1:21.590 + 4.595 20. Burti Prost Acer (M) 1:21.986 + 4.991 21. Alonso Minardi European (M) 1:22.215 + 5.220 22. Marques Minardi European (M) 1:22.748 + 5.753 All Timing Unofficial