Saturday Second Free Practice - Japanese GP

Ralf Schumacher emerged as the fastest man in Saturday morning's free practice for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, when he outpaced his Williams-BMW teammate and nearest rival, Colombian Juan-Pablo Montoya, by three-tenths of a second at Suzuka.

The young German clocked a best time of 1:33.969 to top the times after his older brother, World Champion Michael Schumacher, had set the pace in the first morning session.

On a warm, dry, but slightly overcast morning, it was clear that the Friday efforts of the retirement-bound Frenchman Jean Alesi were being given a serious reality check, as the big teams got down to the job of preparing for qualifying. Alesi was left in 13th place this time.

Ralf Schumacher was three-tenths of a second faster than Montoya after the pair finally dominated a close and intense session of few incidents. Briton David Coulthard was third fastest for McLaren and Michael Schumacher fourth for Ferrari.

Briton Jenson Button, who is reveling in the improved performance of his Benetton Renault and the challenge of the unique figure-of-eight Suzuka circuit, wound up fifth ahead of his future teammate Jarno Trulli in the Jordan.

Pos Driver Team Times 1. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 1:33.969 224.653 km/h 2. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1:34.301 + 0.332 3. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes (B) 1:34.562 + 0.593 4. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:34.711 + 0.742 5. Button Benetton Renault (M) 1:34.735 + 0.766 6. Trulli Jordan Honda (B) 1:34.909 + 0.940 7. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 1:35.037 + 1.068 8. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes (B) 1:35.043 + 1.074 9. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:35.222 + 1.253 10. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 1:35.457 + 1.488 11. Frentzen Prost Acer (M) 1:35.483 + 1.514 12. Raikkonen Sauber Petronas (B) 1:35.672 + 1.703 13. Alesi Jordan Honda (B) 1:35.719 + 1.750 14. Panis BAR Honda (B) 1:36.051 + 2.082 15. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:36.060 + 2.091 16. Fisichella Benetton Renault (M) 1:36.114 + 2.145 17. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:36.144 + 2.175 18. Enge Prost Acer (M) 1:37.246 + 3.277 19. Alonso Minardi European (M) 1:37.429 + 3.460 20. Bernoldi Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:37.514 + 3.545 21. Verstappen Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:37.805 + 3.836 22. Yoong Minardi European (M) 1:38.839 + 4.870 All Timing Unofficial