Michelin Boss Predicts Strong Showing

Michelin boss Pierre Dupasquier is expecting both Williams and McLaren to shine at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Michelin-shod Williams of Ralf Schumacher posted the third fastest time in today's practice while McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen was fourth quickest as the French tyre manufacturer recovered well in the second session following a dominant performance from rivals Bridgestone in the morning.

With temperatures expected to rise on Saturday and Sunday, Frenchman Dupasquier is confident both their tops team will shine.

"At Magny-Cours we saw that McLaren was on the pace and at Hockenheim it was Williams's turn. From what we have seen so far it looks as though both of them will be very strong this weekend," said Dupasquier.

"The track evolved during the day and became much cleaner â€" but only on the racing line. Even at the end of the session we saw that drivers were running wide onto the grass if they strayed so much as a couple of centimeters off line, where there is no grip at all."

Several drivers spun or went off due to the difficult track conditions, but Michelin suffered only one problem, when Scot David Coulthard hit a kerb hard in the second session and had his rear left tyre separate from the wheel rim.

"In fact there was no damage," Dupasquier explained. "The tyre was knocked of the rim when he hit the kerb. Sometimes the bead can be on seated like this. When we put pressure back in the tyre it was fine."