Firday Second Free Practice - French GP

Friday June 25th, 1999

Marlboro-Ferrari fastest in France

Despite the fact that Michael Schumacher waited until the slower, hotter part of the day to take part in Friday's free practice, the German was comfortably fastest for the day having run just nine timed laps. He as running the revised rear bodywork which he had tried in testing the previous week. His first flying lap was spoiled when a brake balance problem saw him lock a front tyre and go a long way off into a gravel trap. He just managed to avoid hitting the tyres. He spent a long time in the pits having his car checked and cleaned out before returning to the track for 7 more laps and the fastest time of the day. "The track is very slippery compared with last week, " commented Michael.

Eddie Irvine was second quickest, a couple of tenths off his team-mate. He tried the new and the old rear bodywork in back- to-back tests in the session but claimed it was too early yet to have a real impression." My car was perfect last week, but the wind has changed this week and it's now very difficult to drive. It's good to be first and second and to know that everyone else is having similar problems with the changing track conditions since last week's test," said Eddie.

McLarens stay the same

Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard failed to improve on their morning times, but retained third and fourth place on the time sheets after working on the set-up of their cars for the difficult track conditions. Coulthard had a spin at the chicane, but got going without leaving the track.

Most go slower in the heat

The warmer conditions and stiff breeze gave everyone handling difficulties with few improving on their morning times. Zanardi and Frentzen continued to fill the next two places, Alesi still next despite not running again following his crash this morning , his car still not repaired, Ralf Schumacher was one of the few to improve. He went from tenth to ninth , but was stopped a few minutes before the end of the session by a gearbox sensor failure.

BAR in trouble

A spin at the start of the session saw Ricardo Zonta stuck in a gravel trap and out for the rest of the session. Jacques Villeneuve had two spins, the second also leaving him stuck in a gravel trap just before the end of the session.

Friday Free Practice - Accumulated Times

Pos  Driver        Team                 Time                   
 1   M.Schumacher  Ferrari              1:17.912   196.375 kmph
 2.  Irvine        Ferrari              1:18.199   + 0.287  
 3.  Hakkinen      Mclaren Mercedes     1:18.251   + 0.339 
 4.  Coulthard     Mclaren Mercedes     1:18.468   + 0.556     
 5.  Zanardi       Williams Supertec    1:18.746   + 0.834     
 6.  Frentzen      Jordan Mugen-Honda   1:18.779   + 0.867     
 7.  Alesi         Sauber Petronas      1:18.908   + 0.996     
 8.  Barrichello   Stewart Ford         1:18.950   + 1.038     
 9.  R.Schumacher  Williams Supertec    1:19.069   + 1.157     
10.  Herbert       Stewart Ford         1:19.260   + 1.348     
11.  Wurz          Benetton Playlife    1:19.491   + 1.579     
12.  Hill          Jordan Mugen-Honda   1:19.591   + 1.679     
13.  Fisichella    Benetton Playlife    1:19.651   + 1.739     
14.  Villeneuve    BAR Supertec         1:20.002   + 2.090     
15.  Trulli        Prost Peugeot        1:20.121   + 2.209     
16.  Panis         Prost Peugeot        1:20.285   + 2.373     
17.  Diniz         Sauber Petronas      1:20.528   + 2.616     
18.  de la Rosa    Arrows TWR           1:20.655   + 2.743     
19.  Zonta         BAR Supertec         1:20.681   + 2.769     
20.  Takagi        Arrows TWR           1:21.418   + 3.506     
21.  Badoer        Minardi Ford         1:21.506   + 3.594     
22.  Gene          Minardi Ford         1:21.928   + 4.016

All timing unofficial


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