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Warm up: Wet session leaves Barrichello on top...

A drying track during the warm up for the Malaysian Grand Prix left the time sheets looking very different to yesterday's (Saturday's) qualifying session, but normality remained as the Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello went fastest

Early-morning rain had left the Sepang circuit with a lot of standing water, but hot and humid conditions meant a dry line quickly developed. The cars at the top of the time sheets were those which stayed out until the dying seconds before the chequered flag was waved.

The McLaren of David Coulthard was second behind Barrichello, giving some encouragement to the Woking-based team after the Scot qualified a disappointing eighth. Team mate Mika Hakkinen, who will start the race from fourth, did not make it into the top 10 and wound up 13th.

Although pole-sitter Michael Schumacher finished only seventh, there was absolutely nothing to suggest the world champion was in any way faltering in his quest to take six wins in a row. The German left nothing to chance and was fastest for much of the session, practised both a pit-stop and a start and even found time to set the fastest middle sector time on his final in-lap.

The only minor interference to the Ferrari number one's race preparations came from a skirmish with brother Ralf. The brothers Schumacher entered turn one side-by-side and Michael had to over correct to give Ralf room as the Williams driver held his outside line. The result was nothing more than a brief stare for Schuey Jr from big brother, and then all was forgotten.

Jarno Trulli, who qualified fifth, continued his impressive run for the Jordan-Honda team by setting the third fastest time. Team mate Heinz-Harald Frentzen was sixth with young gun Kimi Raikkonen and the Arrows of Jos Verstappen between Eddie Jordan's duo.

Eddie Irvine came to a halt on the grass early on at the first corner while completing an installation lap in Jaguar Racing's spare car. The Ulsterman cited an electrical glitch as the culprit and then proceeded to go 15th in his race car.

Benetton's woe continued as Giancarlo Fisichella neatly pirouetted twice at the slow second corner and finished 17th while Jenson Button managed to complete only four laps and did not manage to complete any running during the faster, second half of the session. As a result the young Brit propped up the time sheets in last place.

For full warm-up times, click here.

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