Prac 3: JPM sets pace

JPM had a quiet day yesterday, setting only the seventh fastest time, but the Colombian, a former winner at Monza in 2001, looked on it this morning even if his time of 1m21.700s was more than a second slower than Michael Schumacher's best from yesterday. Rubens Barrichello, in fourth, was the fastest Bridgestone runner.

In truth, no-one completed many laps except the Cosworth-powered Jordans and Minardis, presumably because engine conservation is not such an issue to them since they are likely to qualify near the back of the grid anyway.

The lack of running contributed to a dull and more-or-less incident free session, with only Barrichello's Ferrari going straight on at the first chicane after he missed his braking point.

BAR-Honda's Takuma Sato was fifth fastest ahead of the world champion Schumacher. Kimi Raikkonen, fastest in the second session yesterday, was seventh followed by Jenson Button, David Coulthard and Felipe Massa who once again outpaced his Sauber team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella for tenth.

Jarno Trulli, still working hard to break in that new Renault chassis to his liking, was 12th, ahead of Mark Webber's Jaguar and the two Toyotas of Ricardo Zonta and Olivier Panis. Christian Klien was 16th and the last of the factory runners in the second Jaguar.

Gianmaria Bruni, at his home track, was the fastest of the Cosworth runners for Minardi. He was also the man who completed the most laps in the session (14). Giorgio Pantano's Jordan was 20th, ahead of team-mate Nick Heidfeld and Zsolt Baumgartner.