THE WILLIAMS team reclaimed their familiar place at the head of the pack yesterday with Heinz Harald Frentzen and Jacques Villeneuve posting the two top times in the first free practice session for tomorrow's Brazilian Grand Prix over the punishingly bumpy Interlagos circuit.

With the crucial hour long battle for qualifying positions reserved for this afternoon, Friday practice sessions have increasingly become unpredictable and misleading barometers of accurate race form. Yet, on this occasion, few in the pit lane would bet against the Williams duo retaining their stranglehold on proceedings for the rest of the weekend.

Third fastest was Jean Alesi's Benetton, although the Frenchman's efforts to atone for running his car out of fuel in Melbourne were dented when he spun into the pit wall here, damaging the front suspension and rear wing.

Johnny Herbert's Sauber was fourth fastest, only 0.7 of a second away from Frentzen's Williams, while Australian winner David Coulthard was a cautious eighth in his McLaren Mercedes. This put him only one place ahead of Damon Hill's Arrows, the world champion ending the day in a remarkably upbeat mood despite spinning off during the morning session when his throttle stuck open.

In the pit lane, Jacques Villeneuve was still being tipped as the 1997 world championship favourite, despite fleeting clutch problems during the morning's untimed session. The Canadian shrugged aside his disappointment in having been turfed off the road by Eddie Irvine's Ferrari at the first race in Melbourne three weeks ago, although his assessment of his colleague's driving had not softened in the slightest.

"If Eddie really doesn't believe it wasn't his fault, there's just no point in talking to him," said Villeneuve, hinting that the Ferrari driver could be expected to repeat such indiscretions as the season wore on. As if taking his cue from these downbeat predictions, Irvine pirouetted into a gravel trap early in the second free practice session.

Irvine missed much of the practice as a result and finished 20th, but having only used one of the seven sets of tyres allocated for the weekend. He is hoping to be much closer to team mate Michael Schumacher by tomorrow afternoon.

Martin McCarthy adds: Ralf Schumacher boosted the Jordan team's spirits with another impressive Friday practice performance. The 21 year old was sixth fastest, pipping brother Michael in the process.

The Jordan driver's time left the double world champion and six year veteran of Formula One in his wake as his Ferrari failed to deal with the bumpy track.

Eddie Jordan was cautious, but hopeful about tomorrow's race and the youngster's prospects.

"The car is a lot better than it looked in Melbourne. Ralf's sixth was good, but of course it's only official qualifying that really counts," said Jordan. "He is in a very good frame of mind. He was one happy camper getting out of the car, I have to say. He says it's not important to beat Michael, but I don't believe a word of it," said the Dubliner.

Gary Anderson believes that tyres are the key to the race. "We have a choice of two compounds. Most teams are opting for the softer one. Qualifying will be about getting them matched to the car very quickly," said the Jordan designer.

"I think we should be able to get at least one car qualifying in sixth or seventh place and then in the race I don't see why we shouldn't be looking for points," he added.