Saturday First Free Practice - Canadian GP

World Champion Michael Schumacher returned to the top of the times in Saturday's first practice session for the Canadian Grand Prix as cool temperatures at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve suited Ferrari's Bridgestone tyres.

Schumacher put in a late lap of 1:14.509 to oust Williams-BMW rival Juan Pablo Montoya from top spot as the Colombian continued his bid to chase down the Championship lead.

Montoya, who has admitted he needs to start ahead of Schumacher to have a chance of winning in Montreal, set a time of 1:14.626 to claim second, just ahead of teammate Ralf Schumacher and the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello.

Finn Kimi Raikkonen, of McLaren-Mercedes, was fifth fastest despite a spin early in the session, while German Heinz Harald Frentzen continued his impressive form for Arrows as he set the sixth fastest time.

Olivier Panis continued to show promise with the new much-modified aerodynamic package of his British American Racing Honda by setting seventh fastest time, with Canadian teammate Jacques Villeneuve managing tenth.

Brazilian Felipe Massa was eighth for Sauber, with Briton David Coulthard ninth, the McLaren-Mercedes driver being unable to match his top spot in Friday practice.

Japan's Takuma Sato spun at turn six after 15 minutes of the session, but it was a mistake from Finn Raikkonen that caused more trouble as the youngster parked his McLaren-Mercedes at right angles to the track.

After a couple of close calls as the traffic sped past the Finn's stricken car, Raikkonen was soon able to get away and he immediately made up for his mistake by claiming the fastest time of the session.

With eight minutes of the day's first practice session remaining, Ferrari returned to the top of the times when Barrichello became the first man inside the one minute and 15 seconds barrier. But Montoya then moved in front and it was only Schumacher's last-gasp lap that moved the Italian Scuderia back to the top of the times.

Pos Driver Team Times 1. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:14.509 210.707 km/h 2. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1:14.626 + 0.117 3. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 1:14.707 + 0.198 4. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:14.788 + 0.279 5. Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes (M) 1:15.076 + 0.567 6. Frentzen Arrows Cosworth (B) 1:15.172 + 0.663 7. Panis BAR Honda (B) 1:15.277 + 0.768 8. Massa Sauber Petronas (B) 1:15.308 + 0.799 9. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes (M) 1:15.379 + 0.870 10. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 1:15.541 + 1.032 11. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 1:15.635 + 1.126 12. Fisichella Jordan Honda (B) 1:15.679 + 1.170 13. Trulli Renault (M) 1:15.716 + 1.207 14. McNish Toyota (M) 1:15.918 + 1.409 15. Bernoldi Arrows Cosworth (B) 1:16.003 + 1.494 16. Salo Toyota (M) 1:16.174 + 1.665 17. Button Renault (M) 1:16.321 + 1.812 18. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:16.590 + 2.081 19. Sato Jordan Honda (B) 1:16.826 + 2.317 20. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:16.921 + 2.412 21. Webber Minardi Asiatech (M) 1:17.865 + 3.356 22. Yoong Minardi Asiatech (M) 1:17.960 + 3.451 All Timing Unofficial