Practice 2: Schu tops Kimi

World Championship dominator Michael Schumacher set the pace in Friday's second free practice session ahead of Sunday's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, the Ferrari star just 0.044sec ahead of British GP pole-winner Kimi Raikkonen. Jenson Button was fourth fastest but suffered a mechanical failure

Schumacher was on top in the early going with a 1m15.362s lap, despite almost tripping over Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello at the Mobil Kurve, the fast right-hander that leads into the Motordrome section. Raikkonen lowered the bar, however, with a 1m15.045s - proving that McLaren's pace at Silverstone with its new MP4-19B was no flash in the pan.

Schuey came back out and, to the joy of his devotees, he just dipped under Raikkonen's best time with a 1m15.001s, despite losing two-tenths in the first sector.

Williams appears to be following McLaren's lead as it improves its thus-far recalcitrant machine, the FW26. Despite a brief high-speed off at Mobil, Juan Pablo Montoya recovered to set the third fastest time, 0.166s off the ultimate pace. He was backed up by new team-mate Antonio Pizzonia, who was fifth fastest and just a couple of tenths off the Colombian's pace.

The Williams duo were intersected by Jenson Button, but his BAR ground to a halt on the approach to Turn 1 near the end of the session, just as test driver Anthony Davidson's had done in the first period. Davidson's car was repaired by the second session, however, and he set the sixth fastest time, just ahead of team-mate Takuma Sato.

Renault's Fernando Alonso was eighth fastest, ahead of Barrichello - who only recorded 18 laps in the second session compared to Schuey's 27. Toyota tester Ricardo Zonta rounded out the top 10 in the new TF104B, although race drivers Cristiano da Matta and Olivier Panis were only 18th and 19th respectively.

David Coulthard was 11th fastest in the second McLaren, but managed to spin off twice at Turn 2. Jaguar tester Bjorn Wirdheim was impressive as he outpaced Mark Webber by a couple of tenths, with Christian Klien a further three-tenths in arrears.

Jarno Trulli was back in 14th in the second Renault, while the Saubers languished in 16th (Felipe Massa) and 17th (Giancarlo Fisichella).

In Cosworth-powered land, Jordan tester Timo Glock made up for his earlier demolition of a front wing to win the Jordan vs Minardi battle. He pipped Giorgio Pantano by just over a tenth, while Zsolt Baumgartner headed the trio of Minardis in 22nd.