Saturday June 8th, 2002

By Will Gray

World Champion Michael Schumacher returned to the top of the times in Saturday's first practice session for the Canadian Grand Prix as cool temperatures at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve suited Ferrari's Bridgestone tyres.

Schumacher put in a late lap of 1:14.509 to oust Williams-BMW rival Juan Pablo Montoya from top spot as the Colombian continued his bid to chase down the Championship lead.

Montoya, who has admitted he needs to start ahead of Schumacher to have a chance of winning in Montreal, set a time of 1:14.626 to claim second, just ahead of teammate Ralf Schumacher and the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello.

Finn Kimi Raikkonen, of McLaren-Mercedes, was fifth fastest despite a spin early in the session, while German Heinz Harald Frentzen continued his impressive form for Arrows as he set the sixth fastest time.

Olivier Panis continued to show promise with the new much-modified aerodynamic package of his British American Racing Honda by setting seventh fastest time, with Canadian teammate Jacques Villeneuve managing tenth.

Brazilian Felipe Massa was eighth for Sauber, with Briton David Coulthard ninth, the McLaren-Mercedes driver being unable to match his top spot in Friday practice.

Japan's Takuma Sato spun at turn six after 15 minutes of the session, but it was a mistake from Finn Raikkonen that caused more trouble as the youngster parked his McLaren-Mercedes at right angles to the track.

After a couple of close calls as the traffic sped past the Finn's stricken car, Raikkonen was soon able to get away and he immediately made up for his mistake by claiming the fastest time of the session.

With eight minutes of the day's first practice session remaining, Ferrari returned to the top of the times when Barrichello became the first man inside the one minute and 15 seconds barrier. But Montoya then moved in front and it was only Schumacher's last-gasp lap that moved the Italian Scuderia back to the top of the times.

Pos  Driver        Team                    Times                 
 1.  M.Schumacher  Ferrari            (B)  1:14.509  210.707 km/h
 2.  Montoya       Williams BMW       (M)  1:14.626    +    0.117
 3.  R.Schumacher  Williams BMW       (M)  1:14.707    +    0.198
 4.  Barrichello   Ferrari            (B)  1:14.788    +    0.279
 5.  Raikkonen     McLaren Mercedes   (M)  1:15.076    +    0.567
 6.  Frentzen      Arrows Cosworth    (B)  1:15.172    +    0.663
 7.  Panis         BAR Honda          (B)  1:15.277    +    0.768
 8.  Massa         Sauber Petronas    (B)  1:15.308    +    0.799
 9.  Coulthard     McLaren Mercedes   (M)  1:15.379    +    0.870
10.  Villeneuve    BAR Honda          (B)  1:15.541    +    1.032
11.  Heidfeld      Sauber Petronas    (B)  1:15.635    +    1.126
12.  Fisichella    Jordan Honda       (B)  1:15.679    +    1.170
13.  Trulli        Renault            (M)  1:15.716    +    1.207
14.  McNish        Toyota             (M)  1:15.918    +    1.409
15.  Bernoldi      Arrows Cosworth    (B)  1:16.003    +    1.494
16.  Salo          Toyota             (M)  1:16.174    +    1.665
17.  Button        Renault            (M)  1:16.321    +    1.812
18.  de la Rosa    Jaguar Cosworth    (M)  1:16.590    +    2.081
19.  Sato          Jordan Honda       (B)  1:16.826    +    2.317
20.  Irvine        Jaguar Cosworth    (M)  1:16.921    +    2.412
21.  Webber        Minardi Asiatech   (M)  1:17.865    +    3.356
22.  Yoong         Minardi Asiatech   (M)  1:17.960    +    3.451

All Timing Unofficial

Published at 13:47:35 GMT

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