Brazilian Rubens Barrichello posted the fastest time today in the first practice session for Sunday's French Grand Prix leaving Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher in third.
On a very hot and sunny day in central France Barrichello clocked 1min 15.056sec over the 4.251km Magny-Cours circuit.
McLaren's David Coulthard was second fastest in 1:15.099 with four-time world champion Schumacher following in 1:15.174 and Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya of Williams fourth in 1:15.271.
Ralf Schumacher in the other Williams was fifth in 1:15.481 ahead of the McLaren's Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen, 1:15.525. Britain's Renault driver Jenson Button was the best of the rest in seventh, 1:15.869.
There will be further practice later today and Saturday morning before qualifying for the race, the 11th round of the world championship series.
Montoya has taken the last four pole positions but has finished only one of the races, a third at the British Grand Prix.
Michael Schumacher will be bidding to clinch his fifth world driving title and third straight for Ferrari Sunday.
The German has a 54-point lead over his teammate Barrichello and 53 over Montoya and could wrap up the championship if he wins and neither Barrichello nor Montoya take second.
Meanwhile the Arrows team are still hoping to settle their financial problems before Sunday. The team did not practice today as they are still involved in a financial crisis.
Two weeks ago in a court decision in England, the team were refused permission to enter into commercial deals to raise cash.
The two Arrows cars passed inspection allowing them to be on the entry list. Being on the entry list does not require them to race but allows them to be eligible for financial rewards by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
One of the cars's acceptance was delayed until this morning until a fine for speeding in the pit lane at the Canadian Grand Prix a month ago was finally paid to the FIA.
AFP