Friday October 12th, 2001
Prost driver Tomas Enge emerged unscathed from a heavy crash in Friday's opening free practice at Suzuka ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, as world champion Michael Schumacher topped the times.
Enge thumped into the tyres barrier and ripped off both right-hand side wheels, after he had lost control of his Prost and slid from the track.
Ferrari's Schumacher was quickest with a lap time of 1:37.443, ahead of McLaren's Mika Hakkinen and Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya.
Schumacher's teammate Rubens Barrichello was fourth fastest, ahead of impressive Jean Alesi in the Jordan, with David Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher sixth and seventh respectively. German Heinz-Harald Frentzen powered his Prost to eighth in the timesheets.
Both Sauber drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Nick Heidfeld had minor offs in a relatively incident-free session, as all drivers familiarised themselves with the Suzuka circuit.
Pos Driver Team Times
1. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:37.443 216.644 km/h
2. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes (B) 1:37.798 + 0.355
3. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1:37.947 + 0.504
4. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:38.032 + 0.589
5. Alesi Jordan Honda (B) 1:38.157 + 0.714
6. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes (B) 1:38.160 + 0.717
7. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 1:38.276 + 0.833
8. Frentzen Prost Acer (M) 1:38.445 + 1.002
9. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:38.555 + 1.112
10. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) 1:38.937 + 1.494
11. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) 1:38.953 + 1.510
12. Fisichella Benetton Renault (M) 1:39.000 + 1.557
13. Trulli Jordan Honda (B) 1:39.361 + 1.918
14. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 1:39.532 + 2.089
15. Button Benetton Renault (M) 1:40.018 + 2.575
16. Raikkonen Sauber Petronas (B) 1:40.197 + 2.754
17. Verstappen Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:40.381 + 2.938
18. Panis BAR Honda (B) 1:40.652 + 3.209
19. Alonso Minardi European (M) 1:41.097 + 3.654
20. Enge Prost Acer (M) 1:41.216 + 3.773
21. Bernoldi Arrows Asiatech (B) 1:41.376 + 3.933
22. Yoong Minardi European (M) 1:43.800 + 6.357
All Timing Unofficial
Published at 03:02:33 GMT
(03-16-2005): 
