Schuey maintains momentum in first practice
Michael Schumacher kept his name at the top of the time sheets in Saturday morning's first practice session
Having headed both Friday sessions, he banged in the fastest lap again in the final minutes of the first 45-minute session heading into qualifying.
Title rival Mika Hakkinen was way down in 13th and never figured at the top of the time sheets as he continued to experiment with car set-up.
Ralf Schumacher was second quickest, a third of a second behind his elder brother, and David Coulthard was third, despite a brief off mid-way through the session. The McLaren driver misjudged Spoon Curve and ran into the sand but managed to get back onto the track.
Jenson Button was fourth fastest and Giancarlo Fisichella was fifth. Honda-powered BAR driver Jacques Villeneuve, who has predicted a podium finish in the last two races of the season, finished sixth. But spun off yet again in Saturday morning.
The ex-champion has now spun in every session in Suzuka and this time he was forced to walk back to the pits after misjudging Hairpin Curve.
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