Saturday March 16th, 2002
Rubens Barrichello put Ferrari back on top with the fastest time in Saturday's opening free practice session for Sunday's Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix.
The Brazilian lapped 0.314 of a second quicker than teammate and World Champion Michael Schumacher, who will be seeking a fourth successive Malaysian pole in qualifying later.
Barrichello, who started the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on pole two weeks ago, was well inside the race lap record but his time of one minute 36.974 seconds was slower than Schumacher's 2001 pole of 1:35.220.
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, fastest on Friday, was third with a time of 1:37.639 ahead of Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya in a Williams.
The covered grandstands overlooking the pit straight were again largely empty with only a scattering of fans braving the sticky heat on an overcast day made more hazy by forest fires in the Sepang area.
The opening session was incident free, with Germany's Heinz-Harald Frentzen the only driver who failed to set a lap time in his Arrows.
Pos Driver Team Times
1. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:36.974 205.775 km/h
2. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:37.288 + 0.314
3. Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes (M) 1:37.639 + 0.665
4. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1:37.804 + 0.830
5. Button Renault (M) 1:37.829 + 0.855
6. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 1:38.380 + 1.406
7. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes (M) 1:38.748 + 1.774
8. Fisichella Jordan Honda (B) 1:39.168 + 2.194
9. Massa Sauber Petronas (B) 1:39.783 + 2.809
10. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 1:39.875 + 2.901
11. Bernoldi Arrows Cosworth (B) 1:40.064 + 3.090
12. Trulli Renault (M) 1:40.295 + 3.321
13. Panis BAR Honda (B) 1:40.375 + 3.401
14. Sato Jordan Honda (B) 1:40.422 + 3.448
15. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 1:40.444 + 3.470
16. Salo Toyota (M) 1:40.891 + 3.917
17. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:41.158 + 4.184
18. McNish Toyota (M) 1:41.226 + 4.252
19. Yoong Minardi Asiatech (M) 1:42.618 + 5.644
20. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:42.744 + 5.770
21. Webber Minardi Asiatech (M) 1:43.719 + 6.745
22. Frentzen Arrows Cosworth (B) No Time
All Timing Unofficial
Published at 01:49:31 GMT