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 San Marino GP: Friday Practice Report

SCHUMACHER DOMINATES AT IMOLA

Ferrari looked very strong today at Imola in the wet conditions

The rain that blighted the early part of the first session held off throughout the second 60-minute practice session today at Imola, but despite the drying circuit, lap times remained difficult to improve on, as the 3.064-mile circuit remained especially slippery.

It took until the final 15-minutes of the session for Michael Schumacher to improve on his fastest time from the first session, as the Ferrari driver opted to run intermediate Bridgestone rubber for the first time, lowering the fastest time of the day to 1:36.898 - a time that would remain unchallenged.

Seconds later the German made an uncharacteristic error, spinning off at Variante Alta. The F2002 was soon pushed to the side of the circuit but the team will be disappointed to lose the final quarter of the session but will be happy with the pace of the F2002 at this home event.

Rubens Barrichello continued to do a solid job in the second Ferrari, lapping just two tenths of a second slower than Schumacher, while Giancarlo Fisichella set the third fastest time in the Jordan Honda.

Jordan had their best showing of the year as Fisichella took third

Fisichella and the Jordan team have had a tough start to the season, but will take heart from their performance today as the chassis look particularly well balanced and with their Bridgestone rubber the Italian managed to lap consistently. Despite a quick spin, team-mate Takuma Sato impressed, setting the 11th fastest time overall.

David Coulthard was fourth fastest just ahead of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen. Coulthard may have taken the honour of being the fastest Michelin runner today, but being almost two-seconds slower than Michael Schumacher will please no one at the McLaren Mercedes team.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen was sixth quickest in his Arrows Cosworth, impressing throughout the two practice sessions while Jarno Trulli’s session ended nearly 30-minutes early as he lost control of his Renault exiting the final turn, making contact with the barriers lightly. Despite his misdemeanour, the Italian set the seventh fastest time overall, well clear of team-mate Jenson Button who was just 14th fastest.

Barrichello now has the new F2002 Ferrari and was just fractions slower than Schumacher

Felipe Massa, rumoured to be under a ten-year Ferrari option, set the eighth fastest time overall in his Sauber Petronas, showing the way to team-mate Nick Heidfeld who was in 12th.

Juan Pablo Montoya and the BMW Williams team made improvements throughout the session, but ninth position is not where the team would normally expect to be in, as they seem to be unable to get any back end stability or front end turn-in grip with their chassis.

Ralf Schumacher began the second session with a harmless off at Variante Alta as the 2001 winner continued to struggle and ended his session in tenth position.

Eddie Irvine was the faster of the two Jaguar drivers setting the 13th fastest time, three positions clear of Pedro de la Rosa, while Jacques Villeneuve proved consistent in his BAR Honda in 15th place ahead team-mate Olivier Panis.

Frentzen and Arrows will be hoping the rain continues after finishing in the top six

Enrique Bernoldi was 18th fastest while Mark Webber’s Minardi Asiatech lost oil pressure in the first session, and with a fresh V10 installed in the car for the second session, was able to out perform both Toyota entries of Mika Salo and Allan McNish as well as his team-mate Alex Yoong. For Toyota, it was an especially poor showing today as Salo nor McNish could lap within five seconds of Michael Schumacher.

More rain is predicted throughout the San Marino Grand Prix weekend, which is great news for fans of the Ferrari team as their chassis, combined with the latest Bridgestone rubber, is undoubtedly the class of the field.

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