Friday First Free Practice - US GP

Good start for Ferrari

Michael Schumacher's and Rubens Barrichello's US GP weekend got off to a good start this morning as they took the two fastest times of the session well ahead of their closest rivals. Both ran over 20 laps in the opening practice session in order to learn the circuit and work on the mechanical and aerodynamic set-up for the track. "I am pleased, the simulation we did at the factory was very close to the real thing," said Michael. He and Barrichello had a trouble free session, both using the B-spec engines with the C-type programmed for qualifying tomorrow and working on different areas of the car in order top speed up development for this track. Schumacher's fastest lap was 1:14.927, an average of 201 kph.

McLaren start off the back foot

In a session where lap time was important to set up the car due to the limited time on a new circuit it was a bad start for the McLaren team this morning. David Coulthard only did one lap before rolling to a stop with an electrical problem. A push into the pit lane from the marshals saw him disallowed from taking part in the rest of the session, the team using the time to change gear ratios for the second session. Mika Hakkinen was also in trouble. A gearbox problem saw the team make a quick change during the session and he went out at the end to record the third best time completing only 10 laps in total for the morning.

Button thrilled by the banking

Jenson Button was on the pace early with his Williams-BMW, the British driver setting the fourth fastest time and delighted with his first time on a banked circuit. Ralf Schumacher was not so happy, a failed left-hand front wheel bearing cost him a lot of time in the pits and he was unable to better 17th quickest time.

Villeneuve fifth for BAR

Former Indy 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve was at home with the banking in his BAR, but found the simulator had misjudged the top speeds he would be achieving at the end of the straight, the team planning to add more wing to slow the straight line speed and improve handling on the infield. Even so, he was fifth fastest while Zonta was back in 11th spot, complaining of too much understeer in the infield.

In brief...

Jarno Trulli found the banking 'a bit scary for the first few laps,' until he learned where to aim his Jordan at the exit. He had a couple of spins on the infield, but otherwise was delighted with the track after setting the seventh fastest time. Frentzen was eighth after a trouble free session working on the set-up. Jean Alesi only ran seven laps due to a problem with his electronic throttle system. Both Arrows were way down the field, their high straight-line speeds indicating that they needed to add more wings for the second session. It was a bad start for Fisichella. He went off in his Benetton after 10 laps and damaged the front left corner and nose section.

Pos Driver Team Times 1. M.Schumacher Ferrari 1:14.927 201.556 km/h 2. Barrichello Ferrari 1:15.144 + 0.217 3. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 1:15.707 + 0.780 4. Button Williams BMW 1:15.741 + 0.814 5. Villeneuve BAR Honda 1:16.429 + 1.502 6. Wurz Benetton Playlife 1:16.486 + 1.559 7. Trulli Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:16.487 + 1.560 8. Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:16.514 + 1.587 9. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth 1:16.546 + 1.619 10. Heidfeld Prost Peugeot 1:16.626 + 1.699 11. Zonta BAR Honda 1:16.699 + 1.772 12. Herbert Jaguar Cosworth 1:16.739 + 1.812 13. Gene Minardi Fondmetal 1:16.754 + 1.827 14. Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:16.838 + 1.911 15. Salo Sauber Petronas 1:16.909 + 1.982 16. Mazzacane Minardi Fondmetal 1:16.950 + 2.023 17. R.Schumacher Williams BMW 1:17.064 + 2.137 18. Fisichella Benetton Playlife 1:17.232 + 2.305 19. Verstappen Arrows Supertec 1:17.469 + 2.542 20. de la Rosa Arrows Supertec 1:17.797 + 2.870 21. Alesi Prost Peugeot 1:19.400 + 4.473 22. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 7:14.656 + 5:59.729 All timing unofficial