Friday Free Practice Times

[Mark F1]

1. M Schumacher, Ferrari 1:36.898
2. R Barrichello, Ferrari 1:37.094 +0.196
3. G Fisichella, Jordan 1:38.093 +1.195
4. D Coulthard, McLaren 1:38.747 +1.849
5. K Raikkonen, McLaren 1:38.773 +1.875
6. H-H Frentzen, Arrows 1:39.158 +2.260
7. J Trulli, Renault 1:39.204 +2.306
8. F Massa, Sauber 1:39.253 +2.355
9. J P Montoya, Williams 1:39.480 +.2.582
10. R Schumacher, Williams 1:39.518 +2.620
11. T Sato, Jordan 1:39.764 +2.866
12. N Heidfeld, Sauber 1:39.971 +3.073
13. E Irvine, Jaguar 1:40.551 +3.653
14. J Button, Renault 1:40.601 +3.703
15. J Villeneuve, BAR 1:40.787 +3.889
16. P de la Rosa, Jaguar 1:40.809 +3.911
17. O Panis, BAR 1:41.565 +4.667
18. E Bernoldi, Arrows 1:41.730 +4.832
19. M Webber, Minardi 1:41.969 +5.071
20. M Salo, Toyota 1:42.261 +5.363
21. A Yoong, Minardi 1:43.986 +7.088
22. A McNish, Toyota 1:43.986 +7.088


I'm suprised about how slow the Toyota's are in the wet conditions, perhaps this is one of there main weaknesses. Then again they are on the Michelen's which are slower than the Bridgestone's in the wet anyway. I'm not too suprised to see Fisichella up in third because along with Schumacher and Barrichello he is one of the best wet weather drivers on the grid today. Should be an interesting qualifying if it is wet !!!

[classic]

There were quite a lot of spinning today.. lots of people going off.. I think Hiedfield (or Massa) took to the grass at the same place about 3 or 4 times.. Raikkonnen was in a lot of trouble..
Coulthard was sliding all over the place.. but was looking good..

Come to think of it, I think almost all the top drivers spun or were in trouble today..

Toyota seem to have finally been caught out.. Mcnish tieing with Yoong for the last spot..

Hope that Fisichella stays right up there.. And that Rubens finishes this race.. He was probably was the one guy who did not seem to be in too much trouble today (At least in the second practice.)

[AndyF]

The Ferrari's being a second faster than anyone else is a suprise - as is the gaps throughout the field - over 7 seconds! Probably down to different setups etc.?

[f1truestory]

Ferrari are just the Master

[R]

Probably different setups, yes. The Williams'es wouldn't be that slow, even if it did rain, so they were probably concentrating on race setup.

Seeing Fisichella up there is no surprise. The rain is the great equalizer, separating the men from the boys. Frentzen also doing well, though he was probably on a light fuel load for that lap. Top ten in qualifying not impossible for him? If we have rainy quals it should be interesting, though it will probably mean we will see a Ferrari 1-2.

[paulzinho]

Yeah, wet sessions often mean a larger gap from the front to the back because you often get a couple of guys who are a lot faster than anyone else.

And in todays F1 they don't come much better than Michael and Rubens. Nor than the F2002.

[alesi95]

Originally posted by AndyF
The Ferrari's being a second faster than anyone else is a suprise - as is the gaps throughout the field - over 7 seconds! Probably down to different setups etc.?

Not really it's raining.
And Bridgestone are way quicker in the wet.

[neilap]

Alesi was surprising if all the teams were doing the same thing. I hope he is really that good in the wet. Now Sato has to live up to Eddie's hype about him in the wet. Its not surprising to see the Ferrari's up front. They might be actually hoping for a wet race. Toyo who?? heh heh. I know, I know, its only practice!

[StuiE]

HHF right up there, and Williams not

[Tristan]

Whilst these times mean not a great deal, of course, I am nevertheless aghast at the ferrari's. A SECOND faster than the entire field. Crickey!!

[mac]

I think we've found out the relative strengths of Toyota and Jordan.

Toyota - Great engine, weak chassis.
Jordan - Great chassis, weak engine. (oh, and one great driver)

[neilap]

What was I trying to say in the first sentense of my last post. Wow!! Confused myself. Alesi?? Anyway, after reading the teams remarks after practice it seems that you have a good point. Jordan does seem to have a pretty good chassis. After all it looks freaky enough! On the other side of the coin this is what OP had to say about his morning...
OLIVER PANIS
"It wasn't an easy session that's for sure. I'm disappointed to see that some of the problems we had in Brazil are still in evidence here today. The team have to take a good look at the problems we experienced in practice and really focus on finding a solution. Otherwise, we aren't going to progress."

I have never heard hims so negative. Can we say problems for BAR! I guess they just have a weak package all together.

[Mania]

Again the usual story for Friday - with the Mclarens lighter on fuel compared to Williams. Ferraris pace appears to be genuine however and Williams are no doubt struggling for grip and balance - largely due to Michelins poor wet compounds. I expect Michelin to do better tomorrow even if its wet - but if they dont - then they really should be ashamed of themselves.

They've had 2 full years of testing and they still cant get anywhere near the Bridgestone Inters or wets.