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 Brazilian GP: Friday Practice Report

DC SETS THE PACE IN SAO PAULO

David Coulthard proved that the Michelin shod McLaren Mercedes team cannot be discounted this weekend in Brazil as he took the fastest time in Friday practice with a best lap of 1:15.075.

McNish turned heads after going third quickest in his Toyota

The Scotsman had a troubled first session after spinning his McLaren but right from the outset of the second 60-minute stint he was on the pace. In contrast new team-mate Kimi Raikkonen never looked particularly comfortable in his McLaren and could do no better than sixth fastest.

Juan-Pablo Montoya was second fastest in his BMW Williams, but seemed to suffer from understeer throughout the session. Still the Colombian will be chasing pole position come tomorrow afternoon as he once again used the prodigious power of the BMW V10 to record the fastest straight line speed.

Allan McNish set the third fastest time in his Toyota entry, the Scot recording the mark late in the session. The German based Toyota has talked about gaining respectability this year by finishing races, but given its emerging pace in the first three races it is clear it has a strong and usable engine to challenge the heavyweights. Team-mate Mika Salo was 15th.

Malaysian GP winner Ralf Schumacher looks in good shape yet again

Ralf Schumacher was fourth fastest in the second BMW Williams and was unable to get near his team-mate’s pace, while Michael Schumacher was once again the faster of the two Ferrari runners in fifth position. Running the new F2002, Schumacher suffered a spin late on in the session but at this stage of the weekend was not able to challenge the front runners.

Rubens Barrichello had another difficult session at his home venue as he also suffered a spin in the session. The incident was almost identical to the one that saw him sit out the first session, as the Brazilian simply took too much curb, losing the back end of his elderly F2001 in the process.

Jenson Button was eighth fastest in his Renault while team-mate Jarno Trulli had another difficult day as he was forced to park his Renault early in the session and ended back in 21st position.

Barrichello let the excitement get to him and spun twice during practice

Jacques Villeneuve did a good job to set the ninth fastest time in his BAR Honda but the team doubts it has the pace for when it really counts tomorrow afternoon. Olivier Panis slithered his way to 14th place overall, behind the three Cosworth powered cars of Pedro de la Rosa, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Enrique Bernoldi. The fourth Cosworth powered car of Eddie Irvine was two places back in 14th.

With Mika Salo in 15th position, Giancarlo Fisichella will be disappointed to find himself back in 16th position in what looks to be a capable Jordan Honda. Rookie team-mate Takuma Sato was 19th.

The Sauber duo of Felipe Massa and Nick Heidfeld appear to have less front end grip with their Saubers, so it was perhaps unsurprising to see the two young drivers back in 17th and 18th positions respectively.

Mark Webber was 20th overall with team-mate Alex Yoong in 22nd.

Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi had a great start to his home race to finish in 12th place

Once again in the typical race preparation and set-up sessions of Friday no frontrunners have yet to show their true pace and for that we will have to wait until the third, and most likely fourth practice sessions tomorrow before the all-important qualifying hour.

Importantly for Coulthard, he takes the psychological advantage going into day two of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

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