Ferrari's world champion Michael Schumacher was fastest in Saturday's first free practice for Sunday's SpanishFormula One Grand Prix as lap times came tumbling down.
The Ferrari driver lapped the Circuit de Catalunya in bright, hazy sunshine with a time of one minute 18.634 seconds - more than two secondsquicker than his 2000 pole time of 1:20.974 and his best time on Friday.
McLaren's Mika Hakkinen, winner here for the past three years, was second fastest in 1:19.281 as drivers continued to hone their cars' set up fora race that will see the legalised return of electronic systems such as traction control.
His team mate David Coulthard, who was fastest on Friday and will take the outright championship lead if he beats Schumacher in the race, wasthird fastest in the same 1:19.363 time as Ferrari's Brazilian Rubens Barrichello.
A second practice session was due to follow before official qualifying later today.
