Saturday September 27th, 2003

Formula One leader Michael Schumacher became a celebrity spectator on Saturday after his Ferrari broke down at the start of free practice for the U.S. Grand Prix.

The German, who could clinch a record sixth championship at The Brickyard on Sunday, rolled to a halt at the infield of turn nine just two minutes into the 45 minute first session.

Marshals pushed the car off the track and Schumacher clambered out, standing behind the Armco barrier for the rest of the session as photographers gathered around the captive champion.

The German and his fellow spectators did not have much to see for the opening half hour, with only a handful of cars bothering to take to the damp track on a bright but cold morning after heavy overnight rain.

The session was brought forward an hour to accommodate European television viewers and enable the later final qualifying to be shown at prime time.

Pos  Driver        Team                   Time                    Laps
 1.  Trulli        Renault           (M)  1:12.408  208.419 km/h   6  
 2.  R.Schumacher  Williams BMW      (M)  1:12.468    +    0.060  15  
 3.  Montoya       Williams BMW      (M)  1:12.495    +    0.087  15  
 4.  Barrichello   Ferrari           (B)  1:12.510    +    0.102  14  
 5.  Alonso        Renault           (M)  1:12.741    +    0.333   6  
 6.  da Matta      Toyota            (M)  1:13.098    +    0.690  17  
 7.  Panis         Toyota            (M)  1:13.306    +    0.898  10  
 8.  Frentzen      Sauber Petronas   (B)  1:13.363    +    0.955   7  
 9.  Webber        Jaguar Cosworth   (M)  1:13.573    +    1.165  14  
10.  Wilson        Jaguar Cosworth   (M)  1:13.781    +    1.373   8  
11.  Villeneuve    BAR Honda         (B)  1:13.960    +    1.552   7  
12.  Verstappen    Minardi Cosworth  (B)  1:14.411    +    2.003   7  
13.  Heidfeld      Sauber Petronas   (B)  1:14.439    +    2.031   6  
14.  Kiesa         Minardi Cosworth  (B)  1:14.493    +    2.085   7  
15.  Button        BAR Honda         (B)  1:14.911    +    2.503   6  
16.  Fisichella    Jordan Ford       (B)  1:18.267    +    5.859   4  
17.  Firman        Jordan Ford       (B)  1:29.900    +   17.492   3  

All Timing Unofficial

Published at 13:50:14 GMT

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