Friday October 12th, 2001

Frenchman Jean Alesi demonstrated his intent to bow out of Formula One in style, as he set a blistering pace to top the times in Friday's free practice, ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Jordan driver Alesi posted a best lap time of 1:35.454 seconds late in the session, as he went more than half-a-second quicker than Williams's Juan Pablo Montoya.

Montoya had been at the top of the times for much of the session, but Alesi produced a late flyer to demonstrate his intent to go out of Formula One with a bang.

Eddie Irvine produced a flying lap early in the session in his Jaguar, as he moved to the top of the timesheets with a time more than three-tenths quicker than the previous best, set by Michael Schumacher.

Montoya then posted the quickest time, as Mika Hakkinen and Schumacher struggled to match the pace set. Heinz Harald Frentzen followed by setting the third best time of the day.

Midway through the session, Nick Heidfeld collided heavily with the barriers and was left with just one wheel connected to his Sauber, prompting the red flags to bring the session to a halt.

The German lost the front end of his car and also severely damaged the rear after crashing into the barriers as he exited the S-Curve.

David Coulthard, who had been forced to stay in the pitlane because of problems with his McLaren, spun in the gravel late in the session but managed to get his car out. Pedro de la Rosa proved the potential of the Michelin tyres as he powered to the second best time behind Montoya, who is also on the French rubber in his Williams. also troubled was Giancarlo Fisichella, whose session ended as his Renault engine smoked.

Pos  Driver        Team                    Times                 
 1.  Alesi         Jordan Honda       (B)  1:35.454  221.158 km/h
 2.  Montoya       Williams BMW       (M)  1:35.977    +    0.523
 3.  de la Rosa    Jaguar Cosworth    (M)  1:36.225    +    0.771
 4.  Hakkinen      McLaren Mercedes   (B)  1:36.430    +    0.976
 5.  Frentzen      Prost Acer         (M)  1:36.439    +    0.985
 6.  Irvine        Jaguar Cosworth    (M)  1:36.589    +    1.135
 7.  Coulthard     McLaren Mercedes   (B)  1:36.638    +    1.184
 8.  M.Schumacher  Ferrari            (B)  1:36.727    +    1.273
 9.  R.Schumacher  Williams BMW       (M)  1:36.874    +    1.420
10.  Barrichello   Ferrari            (B)  1:36.994    +    1.540
11.  Button        Benetton Renault   (M)  1:37.645    +    2.191
12.  Heidfeld      Sauber Petronas    (B)  1:37.665    +    2.211
13.  Trulli        Jordan Honda       (B)  1:37.965    +    2.511
14.  Villeneuve    BAR Honda          (B)  1:38.312    +    2.858
15.  Raikkonen     Sauber Petronas    (B)  1:38.315    +    2.861
16.  Fisichella    Benetton Renault   (M)  1:38.398    +    2.944
17.  Alonso        Minardi European   (M)  1:38.961    +    3.507
18.  Panis         BAR Honda          (B)  1:39.108    +    3.654
19.  Verstappen    Arrows Asiatech    (B)  1:39.511    +    4.057
20.  Bernoldi      Arrows Asiatech    (B)  1:39.744    +    4.290
21.  Yoong         Minardi European   (M)  1:39.952    +    4.498
22.  Enge          Prost Acer         (M)  1:41.216    +    5.762

All Timing Unofficial

Published at 05:06:02 GMT

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