Summary
Michael Schumacher suffered a trip through the gravel and barely missing another car after losing control along the Ostkurve at Hockenheim early this morning. Reports say Frentzen saw the Ferrari leaking fluid, contibuting to loss of control by the former World Champion. Ferrari denied any problems with the car.
Ferrari managed to make repairs, but the German then suffered mechanical problems and only completed 6 laps in the second practice session.
David Coulthard was quickest overall this morning, continuing what seems to be a very strong showing in Germany by McLaren Mercedes. Teammate Mika Hakkinen followed in second with Canadian Jacques Villeneuve third. Olivier Panis did not set a practice time due to problems after a spin in the first session.
The Times
POS DRIVER NATION TEAM SESSION TIME 1 David Coulthard GB McLaren Mercedes 2nd Session 1:43.006 2 Mika Hakkinen FIN McLaren Mercedes 2nd Session 1:43.175 + 0.169 3 David Coulthard GB McLaren Mercedes 1st Session 1:43.230 + 0.224 4 Mika Hakkinen FIN McLaren Mercedes 1st Session 1:43.441 + 0.435 5 Jacques Villeneuve CAN Williams Mecachrome 2nd Session 1:43.444 + 0.438 6 Damon Hill GB Jordan Mugen-Honda 2nd Session 1:43.746 + 0.740 7 Heinz-Harald Frentzen GER Williams Mecachrome 2nd Session 1:44.084 + 1.078 8 Ralf Schumacher GER Jordan Mugen-Honda 2nd Session 1:44.114 + 1.108 9 Giancarlo Fisichella ITA Benetton Playlife 2nd Session 1:44.129 + 1.123 10 Giancarlo Fisichella ITA Benetton Playlife 1st Session 1:44.373 + 1.367 11 Jean Alesi FRA Sauber Petronas 2nd Session 1:44.399 + 1.393 12 Eddie Irvine GB Ferrari 2nd Session 1:44.655 + 1.649 13 Damon Hill GB Jordan Mugen-Honda 1st Session 1:44.818 + 1.812 14 Jacques Villeneuve CAN Williams Mecachrome 1st Session 1:44.854 + 1.848 15 Michael Schumacher GER Ferrari 2nd Session 1:45.038 + 2.032 16 Heinz-Harald Frentzen GER Williams Mecachrome 1st Session 1:45.104 + 2.098 17 Alexander Wurz AUT Benetton Playlife 2nd Session 1:45.153 + 2.147 18 Ralf Schumacher GER Jordan Mugen-Honda 1st Session 1:45.304 + 2.298 19 Jarno Trulli ITA Prost Peugeot 2nd Session 1:45.343 + 2.337 20 Jean Alesi FRA Sauber Petronas 1st Session 1:45.399 + 2.393 21 Toranosuke Takagi JAP Tyrrell Ford 1st Session 1:45.533 + 2.527 22 Toranosuke Takagi JAP Tyrrell Ford 2nd Session 1:45.533 + 2.527 23 Mika Salo FIN Arrows TWR 2nd Session 1:45.535 + 2.529 24 Rubens Barrichello BRA Stewart Ford 2nd Session 1:45.537 + 2.531 25 Alexander Wurz AUT Benetton Playlife 1st Session 1:46.216 + 3.210 26 Mika Salo FIN Arrows TWR 1st Session 1:46.327 + 3.321 27 Rubens Barrichello BRA Stewart Ford 1st Session 1:46.415 + 3.409 28 Jarno Trulli ITA Prost Peugeot 1st Session 1:46.427 + 3.421 29 Eddie Irvine GB Ferrari 1st Session 1:46.435 + 3.429 30 Jos Verstappen HOL Stewart Ford 2nd Session 1:46.543 + 3.537 31 Pedro Diniz BRA Arrows TWR 2nd Session 1:46.677 + 3.671 32 Sinji Nakano JAP Minardi Ford 2nd Session 1:47.366 + 4.360 33 Johnny Herbert GB Sauber Petronas 1st Session 1:48.128 + 5.122 34 Johnny Herbert GB Sauber Petronas 2nd Session 1:48.128 + 5.122 35 Sinji Nakano JAP Minardi Ford 1st Session 1:48.171 + 5.165 36 Jos Verstappen HOL Stewart Ford 1st Session 1:48.180 + 5.174 37 Esteban Tuero ARG Minardi Ford 1st Session 1:48.299 + 5.293 38 Esteban Tuero ARG Minardi Ford 2nd Session 1:48.299 + 5.293 39 Ricardo Rosset BRA Tyrrell Ford 2nd Session 1:48.651 + 5.645 40 Pedro Diniz BRA Arrows TWR 1st Session 1:48.931 + 5.925 41 Ricardo Rosset BRA Tyrrell Ford 1st Session 1:49.740 + 6.734 Saturday Practice Aggregate 107% 1:50.216 + 7.210 All Times Unofficial