Friday Second Free Practice - San Marino GP

World champion Michael Schumacher was fastest on Friday as Ferrari dominated free practice for the San Marino Formula One Grand Prix.

The German, winner here for the last two years and chasing a record-equalling eighth successive pole position, recorded a time of 1:25.096 on a drying track as the sun came out after a day of steady rain at Imola.

His Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello, criticised after he failed to finish his home race at Interlagos two weeks ago for the seventh year in a row, was second fastest in 1:25.372.

Barrichello had been fastest in the morning, when the track was still throwing up spray, in 1:31.998.

The times compared to former champion Mika Hakkinen's pole position for McLaren in 2000 of 1:24.714 and can be expected to fall further in Saturday's qualifying for Sunday's race if the fine weather holds up.

Hakkinen was fourth fastest, slower than the Williams of Michael's younger brother Ralf. Frenchman Olivier Panis clocked the fifth quickest time in a BAR.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, the other Williams hope, watched much of the second session from the pit lane wall after recording only the 17th fastest time in the morning.

Montoya, the Formula One newcomer who led for half the race in Brazil, put in two laps in the afternoon and did not improve his time from the morning. He ended as the slowest overall.

Briton David Coulthard, Hakkinen's team mate who won the last race in Brazil and is second in the championship behind Schumacher, spun off into the gravel trap and was 11th fastest.

Dutchman Jos Verstappen, who ended Montoya's race at Interlagos when they collided after the Colombian had lapped him, managed only seven laps after a troubled day.

Pos. Driver Team Times 1. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:25.096 208.691 km/h 2. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:25.372 + 0.276 3. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 1:25.829 + 0.733 4. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes (B) 1:26.341 + 1.245 5. Panis BAR Honda (B) 1:26.535 + 1.439 6. Raikkonen Sauber Petronas (B) 1:26.552 + 1.456 7. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:26.599 + 1.503 8. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 1:26.739 + 1.643 9. Trulli Jordan Honda (B) 1:26.923 + 1.827 10. Burti Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:26.933 + 1.837 11. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes (B) 1:27.132 + 2.036 12. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 1:27.142 + 2.046 13. Frentzen Jordan Honda (B) 1:27.406 + 2.310 14. Alesi Prost Acer (M) 1:27.437 + 2.341 15. Fisichella Benetton Renault (M) 1:28.322 + 3.226 16. Mazzacane Prost Acer (M) 1:28.586 + 3.490 17. Button Benetton Renault (M) 1:28.902 + 3.806 18. Alonso European Minardi (M) 1:28.931 + 3.835 19. Bernoldi Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:29.273 + 4.177 20. Marques European Minardi (M) 1:29.589 + 4.493 21. Verstappen Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:29.750 + 4.654 22. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1:39.812 + 0:14.716 All timing unofficial