Friday Second Free Practice - US GP

Mika Hakkinen got the perfect birthday present on Friday as he topped the times in his McLaren in the free practice session for the United States Grand Prix.

Finn Hakkinen, 33 today, won a battle with World Champion Michael Schumacher to top the times despite completing just four laps in the opening hour after engine problems had prevented him from running. Schumacher's Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello was third quickest ahead of McLaren's David Coulthard while Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine and Sauber's Nick Heidfeld completed the top six.

Heidfeld was first on track and Hakkinen quickly followed him. The Finn immediately raced to the quickest time as temperatures began to rise, but Schumacher regained top spot minutes later, more than four-tenths quicker. Benetton's Giancarlo Fisichella ended his day just eight minutes into the second hour as he spun in the gravel after he had impressed in the opening session.

Barrichello then posted the second quickest time to demote Coulthard and Hakkinen to third and fourth respectively. Williams drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher finally made an impact on the timesheets as they moved up to fifth and eighth places.

BAR's Jacques Villeneuve took to the track after having his problems rectified in the garage mid-way through the session but was still left languishing in the lower places. The impressive Tomas Enge spun at turn eight and stalled his Prost on the track, forcing the Jaguars of Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa to take evasive action.

Hakkinen moved to the top with just 10 minutes remaining in the session as he put in a charge. Jos Verstappen had engine problems late in the session and Ralf Schumacher spun his Williams as he strived to better his time.

Pos Driver Team Times 1. Hakkinen Mclaren Mercedes (B) 1:13.387 205.639 km/h 2. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:13.552 + 0.165 3. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:13.584 + 0.197 4. Coulthard Mclaren Mercedes (B) 1:13.656 + 0.269 5. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:13.806 + 0.419 6. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 1:13.827 + 0.440 7. Frentzen Prost Acer (M) 1:13.858 + 0.471 8. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:13.917 + 0.530 9. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 1:13.919 + 0.532 10. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1:13.983 + 0.596 11. Raikkonen Sauber Petronas (B) 1:14.027 + 0.640 12. Alesi Jordan Honda (B) 1:14.057 + 0.670 13. Button Benetton Renault (M) 1:14.186 + 0.799 14. Trulli Jordan Honda (B) 1:14.215 + 0.828 15. Panis BAR Honda (B) 1:14.368 + 0.981 16. Enge Prost Acer (M) 1:14.767 + 1.380 17. Fisichella Benetton Renault (M) 1:14.911 + 1.524 18. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 1:14.999 + 1.612 19. Alonso Minardi European (M) 1:15.131 + 1.744 20. Bernoldi Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:15.449 + 2.062 21. Verstappen Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:15.547 + 2.160 22. Yoong Minardi European (M) 1:16.318 + 2.931 All Timing Unofficial