But as the session progressed more and more of the other drivers were able to set faster times, seeing Juan Pablo and Ralf drop down the order.

Montoya's FW24 was to set a top speed of 328.7kph along the back straight indicating that the BMW engine is till certainly delivering more than adequate amounts of power. The FW24 was using the new front wing which adopts the more curve shape than the usual straight front edge seen earlier in the season.

At the end of the session it would be Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello who would set the fastest time ahead of team mate Michael Schumacher and Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella. All the front running drivers were on Bridgestone tyres.

For Michael Schumacher his session would see him easily go fastest with half the session complete. But he was to have a moment late in the session where he would touch the barriers on the exit of the final chicane with ten minutes to go and as such could not defend his quickest time with damaged suspension.

With Michael out of the picture Barrichello grabbed the opportunity and set the fastest time, just six hundredths ahead of Schumacher. Even though Fisichella was third he was till over one second behind the Ferrari of Barrichello.

In fourth, and the first Michelin runner, was McLaren's David Coulthard ahead of his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and Arrows' driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Once again the Arrows package is looking strong after their run of good performances at recent Grand Prix. Frentzen would spin during the later part of the session.

BAR's Oliver Panis was seventh fastest time in front of Sauber's Felipe Massa and Juan-Pablo Montoya. Jaguar's Pedro de la Rosa completed the top ten.