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