Saturday First Free Practice - US GP

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher topped the times in Saturday's opening practice session at Indianapolis in a routine workout for the World Champion.

Schumacher was almost four-tenths of a second quicker than the Williams of his brother Ralf, with Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello and McLaren pair Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard making up the top five. Jaguar's Eddie Irvine posted the first meaningful time of the session, but was immediately eclipsed by Hakkinen.

Ralf Schumacher then got top spot before his brother Michael replaced him at the head of the timesheets with a time more than six-tenths of a second better. Coulthard finally set his first lap time mid-way through the session, but was left in 22nd position. He improved and took third time, only to be demoted one place by his teammate Hakkinen.

Barrichello took third from Hakkinen with a flying lap and Ralf Schumacher improved his time but could not overhaul his time-topping brother Michael. Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya improved his time to move up to sixth, and then escaped without damage after he spun at turn five.

Pos Driver Team Times 1. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:12.078 209.373 km/h 2. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 1:12.454 + 0.376 3. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:12.463 + 0.385 4. Hakkinen Mclaren Mercedes (B) 1:12.617 + 0.539 5. Coulthard Mclaren Mercedes (B) 1:12.724 + 0.646 6. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1:12.787 + 0.709 7. Button Benetton Renault (M) 1:12.955 + 0.877 8. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 1:13.079 + 1.001 9. Fisichella Benetton Renault (M) 1:13.283 + 1.205 10. Trulli Jordan Honda (B) 1:13.429 + 1.351 11. Raikkonen Sauber Petronas (B) 1:13.520 + 1.442 12. Panis BAR Honda (B) 1:13.521 + 1.443 13. Alesi Jordan Honda (B) 1:13.931 + 1.853 14. Frentzen Prost Acer (M) 1:14.122 + 2.044 15. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:14.126 + 2.048 16. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:14.212 + 2.134 17. Bernoldi Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:14.390 + 2.312 18. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 1:14.460 + 2.382 19. Enge Prost Acer (M) 1:14.675 + 2.597 20. Verstappen Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:15.005 + 2.927 21. Alonso Minardi European (M) 1:15.271 + 3.193 22. Yoong Minardi European (M) 1:15.718 + 3.640 All Timing Unofficial