Friday August 27th, 1999
McLaren-Mercedes head first practice session
Mika Hakkinen and team-mate David Coulthard headed the list of practice times around the thrilling Spa-Francorchamps circuit this morning, Hakkinen almost half a second quicker than his team-mate after what the team described as a routine practice session. The only incident for the team was when Hakkinen made an unscheduled pit stop after locking up his brakes and sliding straight on at the bus-stop chicane. The weather remained dry and sunny throughout.
Schumacher well up for Williams
Ralf Schumacher set an impressive third fastest for the Williams team with his team-mate seventh fastest , his first time at Spa since his big accident in a Lotus in 1993. Both Williams were running minor modifications to the front and rear wings, their drivers complaining of a bit too much oversteer in the high speed corners.
Salo fourth for Ferrari
Mika Salo set the quickest time for the Scuderia Ferrari - Marlboro team just ahead of his team-mate Eddie Irvine who ran only 10 laps to Salo's 17. The Finn , who recently signed for Sauber next season, carried out a couple of changes to his car, Irvine only one after an regular morning's work. The cars were reported to be running nothing new at this race.
Alesi on the pace for Sauber
Jean Alesi might have recently signed for the Prost team next year, but as usual the Frenchman was giving his all from the very start of practice to end up with the sixth fastest time for Sauber despite complaining of bottoming problems at Eau Rouge and a lack of traction and too much oversteer. Pedro Diniz lost time in the pits with another stuck rear wheel nut, the Brazilian also having a lucky escape when he locked his brakes into the chicane and bounced high over the kerbs. He was 17th fastest.
Frentzen eighth for Jordan
Heinz Harald Frentzen reported no troubles this morning, but Bridgestone engineers were seen to be studying a badly blistered rear tyre on his Jordan, the team concentrating on getting the critical ride height of the car just right for this track. Hill complained of too much understeer at the start of the session, but then said he had too much oversteer after making changes, but said he was going in the right direction after setting tenth fastest time.
In brief...
Although 11th and 12th, both Stewart drivers were content this morning, both using the Series 4 engine for the entire weekend here and happy with performance other than looking for better traction on the green circuit. Both Benetton drivers complained of no grip and traction, Fisichella ninth and Wurz back in 16th place. Jacques Villeneuve stopped on the track with a suspected hydraulic failure.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 1:54.396 219.280 kmph
2. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:54.832 + 0.436
3. R.Schumacher Williams Supertec 1:54.889 + 0.493
4. Salo Ferrari 1:55.032 + 0.636
5. Irvine Ferrari 1:55.242 + 0.846
6. Alesi Sauber Petronas 1:55.777 + 1.381
7. Zanardi Williams Supertec 1:55.886 + 1.490
8. Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:55.924 + 1.528
9. Fisichella Benetton Playlife 1:56.150 + 1.754
10. Hill Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:56.222 + 1.826
11. Barrichello Stewart Ford 1:56.232 + 1.836
12. Herbert Stewart Ford 1:56.271 + 1.875
13. Villeneuve BAR Supertec 1:56.429 + 2.033
14. Panis Prost Peugeot 1:56.504 + 2.108
15. Trulli Prost Peugeot 1:56.765 + 2.369
16. Wurz Benetton Playlife 1:57.179 + 2.783
17. Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:57.429 + 3.033
18. Zonta BAR Supertec 1:57.717 + 3.321
19. Badoer Minardi Ford 1:58.145 + 3.749
20. Takagi Arrows TWR 1:58.628 + 4.232
21. Gene Minardi Ford 1:58.806 + 4.410
22. de la Rosa Arrows TWR 1:59.152 + 4.756