Irvine on top for Ferrari

Eddie Irvine broke into the sub-1m 25.0 secs time this afternoon to set the fastest time of the day for the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro team, the Irishman setting his time before rain washed out the last 40 minutes of the session. He was happy with the progress he had made today. Michael Schumacher only completed another three laps before the rain, the German still having brake problems, but otherwise happy with his car's performance in race trim. He was optimistic that he could match the time set by McLaren in last week's testing and give them a good battle for the pole if it remains dry tomorrow. "I would prefer a dry race," commented Schumacher ," as there is too much uncertainty in a wet race in Monza."

Coulthard keeps third fastest

David Coulthard retained the third fastest time of the session despite two incidents in the dry before the rain. He had one straight on at one of the chicanes and then spun again at a chicane, his car oversteering when he got a wheel up on the kerb. Mika Hakkinen dropped back to fifth fastest , but had no complaints about his car. He made changes to the set-up in the first part of the session, but was unable to confirm if the changes were better because of the rain.

Villeneuve goes quicker for Williams

Jacques Villeneuve got in a quick run before the rain, improving to fourth fastest of the session. Heinz Harald Frentzen moved back to sixth place, both the Williams drivers running in the wet and well pleased with their performance on the intermediate tyres.

Trulli seventh for Prost

Even though Jarno Trulli took the seventh fastest time for the Prost team , he was unhappy with the balance of his car which he claimed was not as stable as last week's test. Olivier Panis only got a few laps in the dry before it rained and ended up in 13th spot.

Hill happy in the wet

Damon Hill tried the harder compound wet weather tyres and was happy with his car's handling in the wet conditions. Ralf Schumacher used the softer wet tyres and was the fastest driver on the track in the rain, but said later that in heavy rain similar to that which fell at the end of session ," it would be impossible to race in these conditions."

In brief...

Jean Alesi again failed to run a lap, the team still unable to find the electrical problem that was causing his fly- by-wire throttle system not to work. Pedro Diniz continued to have electrical problems with his Arrows. Mika Salo had only a few laps to set his car up in the dry before the rain ended his efforts. He had a spin, but managed to get going again.

Timing

POS DRIVER                NATION    TEAM                        TIME                
  1 Eddie Irvine          GBR       Ferrari F300                1:24.987   244.414 kph    
  2 Michael Schumacher    GER       Ferrari F300                1:25.246   + 0.259 
  3 David Coulthard       GBR       McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13     1:25.690   + 0.703    
  4 Jacques Villeneuve    CAN       Williams-Mecachrome FW20    1:26.053   + 1.066    
  5 Mika Hakkinen         FIN       McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13     1:26.159   + 1.172    
  6 Heinz-Harald Frentzen GER       Williams-Mecachrome FW20    1:26.528   + 1.541    
  7 Jarno Trulli          ITA       Prost-Peugeot AP01          1:26.748   + 1.761    
  8 Damon Hill            GBR       Jordan-Mugen-Honda 198      1:26.838   + 1.851    
  9 Giancarlo Fisichella  ITA       Benetton-Mecachrome B198    1:26.885   + 1.898    
 10 Alexander Wurz        AUT       Benetton-Mecachrome B198    1:26.886   + 1.899    
 11 Ralf Schumacher       GER       Jordan-Mugen-Honda 198      1:27.079   + 2.092    
 12 Johnny Herbert        GBR       Sauber-Petronas C17         1:27.541   + 2.554    
 13 Olivier Panis         FRA       Prost-Peugeot AP01          1:27.676   + 2.689    
 14 Rubens Barrichello    BRA       Stewart-Ford SF2            1:28.066   + 3.079    
 15 Ricardo Rosset        BRA       Tyrrell-Ford 026            1:28.098   + 3.111    
 16 Toranosuke Takagi     JPN       Tyrrell-Ford 026            1:28.135   + 3.148    
 17 Jos Verstappen        NED       Stewart-Ford SF2            1:28.606   + 3.619    
 18 Esteban Tuero         ARG       Minardi-Ford M198           1:28.847   + 3.860    
 19 Sinji Nakano          JPN       Minardi-Ford M198           1:28.849   + 3.862    
 20 Mika Salo             FIN       Arrows A19                  1:29.603   + 4.616    
 21 Pedro Diniz           BRA       Arrows A19                  1:53.671   + 28.684     
 22 Jean Alesi            FRA       Sauber-Petronas C17        18:20.632   + 16:55.645    
                                                                                       
    Friday Practice 107%                                        1:30.936   + 5.949    

All timing is unofficial

Temps: 
partially wet
Air   21-19C
Track 26-18C

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