Practice 2: Schumacher feast in Japan
Second practice at Suzuka this morning (Saturday) turned into a Schumacher family duel, with Ralf coming out on top. The Schumacher brothers were nearly half a second quicker than their respective team-mates. But the most important incident in the session was an accident for Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn was unhurt but the McLaren does not look repairable in time for the rest of today's free practice.
Raikkonen had been visibly trying his all to find a quicker way through the esses that make up the first sector of the lap. This area cost him in first qualifying but the McLaren was still unwilling to follow Kimi's wishes on each of his laps this morning.
After seven laps, Kimi went through turn one with far more speed than he could lose before the fast-approaching second corner. In the end, he hardly managed to turn in at all. After solid contact with the tyre wall, he was lucky that damage to the McLaren was limited to the destruction of the front-left wheel and suspension. He was left to watch the rest of the session from the sidelines.
Ralf Schumacher was far from perfect on his best lap, but pulled out a fine last sector to pip his brother with a 1m32.931s. The Renaults were nearly a second and a half off the pace in tenth and eleventh.
Both Olivier Panis and Barrichello overshot the chicane with a minimum of drama. Both drivers appeared struggle to anticipate the arrival of the modified corner.
The next session, probably minus Raikkonen, gets underway at 0215 BST (Saturday).
Saturday First Free Practice - Japanese GP
Saturday Second Free Practice - Japanese GP
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