Marlboro-Ferrari head first practice session
Eddie Irvine and Michael Schumacher set the pace by the end of the first free practice session for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix, both drivers carrying out different programme throughout the session. Irvine tried several chassis set-up changes while Schumacher did not change the set-up. The cars were running new brake ducts for this track which is so hard on brakes, while the team were also gathering valuable information from practice pit-stops during the session.
Coulthard third, Hakkinen spins off
David Coulthard set the third fastest time of the session, waiting for the track to clean up before working on an initial chassis set-up which he is still developing. Mika Hakkinen ended his session stuck in a sand trap when he pushed too hard and spun off under braking at turn 10 after 59 minutes and remained stuck in a gravel trap. "It was my fault, I was pushing too hard," he said. He ended up 13th fastest for the session.
Alesi going well for Sauber
Jean Alesi headed the time sheets at the start of the session before losing time with a stuck wheel nut. He came back onto the track after losing time in the pits ending up fourth fastest despite a harmless spin. His teammate Diniz was lucky to escape a highspeed spin at turn one when he lost his Sauber under braking knocking off a front wheel as he bounced off the tyre barrier and ended up at the exit of the corner. The car will probably not be ready for the afternoon. "We do not know if it was a brake problem or just a driver fault," said Peter Sauber.
Bad morning for Williams
Although Ralf Schumacher set the fifth fastest time of the morning it wasn't a good one for the Williams team. The German lost much of the session with hydraulic problems and ran only eight laps. Alex Zanardi managed no more than three laps when his car was sidelined with a gearbox problem.
Villeneuve happy
Jacques Villeneuve was happy to have run 17 trouble free laps and take the seventh fastest time for BAR-Supertec. Teammate Ricardo Zonta was back in te saddle after his accident in Brazil and also ran 17 laps and 16th fastest time, his priority being to learn the unfamiliar circuit.
In brief...
No problems with the Stewart team, Herbert eighth fastest just ahead of his teammate, although both drivers were concerned with brake temperatures this morning. The Jordan drivers were also having problems getting their cars' brakes to their liking. Hill was 11th fastest just behind Frentzen who managed only 8 laps because of a problem with the rear suspension early in the session. Panis was happy with his sixth place for the Prost team, especially after changing the brake balance and engine mapping. Trulli was not as happy. He complained of oversteer and had a spin without hitting the wall. He will use Panis' set up this afternoon.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Irvine Ferrari 1:21.044 196.382 kmph
2. M.Schumacher Ferrari 1:21.329 + 0.285
3. Coulthard Mclaren Mercedes 1:22.113 + 1.069
4. Alesi Sauber Petronas 1:22.733 + 1.689
5. R.Schumacher Williams Supertec 1:22.953 + 1.909
6. Panis Prost Peugeot 1:22.957 + 1.913
7. Villeneuve BAR Supertec 1:23.127 + 2.083
8. Herbert Stewart Ford 1:23.303 + 2.259
9. Barrichello Stewart Ford 1:23.342 + 2.298
10. Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:23.548 + 2.504
11. Hill Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:23.554 + 2.510
12. Trulli Prost Peugeot 1:23.670 + 2.626
13. Hakkinen Mclaren Mercedes 1:23.758 + 2.714
14. Badoer Minardi Ford 1:23.958 + 2.914
15. Fisichella Benetton Playlife 1:24.060 + 3.016
16. Zonta BAR Supertec 1:24.196 + 3.152
17. Wurz Benetton Playlife 1:24.246 + 3.202
18. Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:24.462 + 3.418
19. Takagi Arrows TWR 1:24.543 + 3.499
20. Gene Minardi Ford 1:24.610 + 3.566
21. de la Rosa Arrows TWR 1:25.240 + 4.196
22. Zanardi Williams Supertec 1:36.254 +15.210
All timing unofficial