Surprise results in Friday free practice

By Greig Murray
July 19 2002

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The time sheet at the end of the first two hours of free practice for Sunday’s French Grand Prix has an unusual look about it. McLaren-Mercedes emerged quickest on a day when the two Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro drivers were “surrounded” in third and fourth places by cars running on the rival tyre brand. David Coulthard was quickest in 1’14”025, followed by team-mate Kimi Raikkonen (1’14”097.

Michael Schumacher was the fastest Bridgestone runner in third place on 1’14”240, around half a second quicker than Rubens Barrichello (1’14”750.) Ralf Schumacher was fifth for BMW-Williams in 1’14”970. His team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya was down in tenth place, having survived a very high speed spin in the afternoon. Even if it is accepted that Friday’s times mean very little, Jaguar must have been pleased to see Eddie Irvine well up the order up in sixth place in 1’14”983. It was apparently not a fluke, because team-mate Pedro De La Rosa in eighth place, with Mika Salo’s Toyota, the meat in the Jaguar sandwich.

Michael Schumacher completed 50 laps today, more than any other driver except Sauber’s Felipe Massa, who also did a half century. Rubens Barrichello did 40 as the Scuderia was keen to see how the car behaved on a long run. Michelin runners appeared to be slightly dominant today, however the Ferrari drivers are not too concerned, having seen this situation reversed on race day in recent grands prix.

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