Hakkinen sets the pace for McLaren Mercedes
After sitting on the sidelines for most of the session waiting for the other runners to clean the worst of the dusty track surface, Mika Hakkinen ran just 7 laps to set the fastest time of the session for McLaren and that was with his first flying lap spoiled by a spin at the last corner. David Coulthard also ran just seven laps like his team-mate and set what was to be the third fastest time of the session. "There really wasn't a lot to be learned with the track conditions this morning," said Ron Dennis.
Irvine chases Hakkinen for fastest time
Eddie Irvine was another to sit out most of the session before finally taking to the track to set what was to be the second fastest time of the morning, three tenth's outside Hakkinen's best after 8 laps. Mika Salo also ran just eight laps and was eighth fastest with his Marlboro-Ferrari. Both cars were running a modified Monaco aerodynamic set-up which the drivers were confirming against wind tunnel data this morning.
Barrichello on the pace for Stewart
Rubens Barrichello ran 12 laps with the Stewart Ford which seems to be well on the pace at this twisty track after setting the fourth fastest time of the session. Johnny Herbert was ninth quickest, almost a second off the pace of his team- mate complaining of too much understeer. Both cars ran the Series 3 engines and will run the Series 4 for qualifying on Saturday.
Williams fifth and sixth
The two Williams drivers were well up in the opening practice session, Ralf Schumacher three tenth's up on his teammate Alex Zanardi who lost time in the pits after a high speed trip across one of the gravel traps. The team will try a revised side pod with different radiator top exits.
In brief....
Jacques Villeneuve's session ended after just five laps when he spun in his BAR into a gravel trap, the Canadian forced to run early when the track was slippery to gather data. Zonta ran 18 laps with no problem, but found his car very nervous in the slippery conditions. Jean Alesi took a trip across the gravel trap and complained of a lack of downforce on his car which he will try to improve this afternoon. Team-mate Diniz stopped near the end of the session with a gearbox problem, either hydraulic or electrically induced.
Benetton tried a new aerodynamic package developed in tests at Lurcy-Levis last week. Fisichella was tenth quickest this morning saying his car was well balanced but lacked grip. Wurz was back in 18th place complaining of too much understeer.
Both Prost drivers complained of understeer in the low grip conditions. Damon Hill only ran 4 laps ,but apparently had no problems. Tora Takagi had a trip across a gravel trap unable to fins a balance with his Arrows. His team-mate Pedro de la Rosa ran the most laps (21) The Spaniard learning the track.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 1:20.133 178.443 kmph
2. Irvine Ferrari 1:20.450 + 0.317
3. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:21.032 + 0.899
4. Barrichello Stewart Ford 1:21.062 + 0.929
5. R.Schumacher Williams Supertec 1:21.481 + 1.348
6. Zanardi Williams Supertec 1:21.773 + 1.640
7. Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:21.898 + 1.765
8. Salo Ferrari 1:21.961 + 1.828
9. Herbert Stewart Ford 1:22.012 + 1.879
10. Fisichella Benetton Supertec 1:22.375 + 2.242
11. Trulli Prost Peugeot 1:22.455 + 2.322
12. Hill Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:22.523 + 2.390
13. Alesi Sauber Petronas 1:22.586 + 2.453
14. Zonta BAR Supertec 1:22.731 + 2.598
15. Panis Prost Peugeot 1:22.734 + 2.601
16. Gene Minardi Ford 1:22.810 + 2.677
17. de la Rosa Arrows TWR 1:23.216 + 3.083
18. Wurz Benetton Supertec 1:23.310 + 3.177
19. Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:23.389 + 3.256
20. Takagi Arrows TWR 1:24.064 + 3.931
21. Badoer Minardi Ford 1:24.364 + 4.231
22. Villeneuve BAR Supertec 1:24.683 + 4.550
All timing unofficial