The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Barrichello fastest in practice

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 03, 2004

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Sport - Racing : Motor

Barrichello fastest in practice

MAGNY COURS (FRANCE), JULY 2. Rubens Barrichello had the fastest time as the Ferraris dominated the wet-and-dry opening practice session for the French Grand Prix Friday.

On a cool, windy morning with showers briefly wetting the track midway through the session, Barrichello was fastest with 1 minute 15.487 seconds on the 4.411-kilometer (2.74-mile) Nevers-Magny Cours circuit.

Michael Schumacher, winner of eight of nine races so far, was next fastest with 1:15.713 as the Ferraris were able to get in quick laps before the rains came.

Michael Schumacher has won eight of nine races so far this season and teammate Barrichello has contributed to six 1-2 finishes, including the last three races.

Ralf Schumacher won the French Grand Prix at Magny Cours but is missing it this year. Now Ralf has two cracked vertebrae in his back after a crash at the U.S. Grand Prix and is sidelined until at least September. Williams hasn't had a car in the standings the last two races, with disqualifications and Ralf's accident.

His place for this race will be taken by Spain's Marc Gene, who drove two years for Minardi before being the test driver for Williams. He came in third in the opening session with 1:19.348.Ralf had the pole position last year in 1:15.019.

The other Williams driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, crashed in the morning session after losing control on the rain-slicked track.

He spun into the grass, going airborne twice including one time he looked like he was about to roll over. His car remained upright and went into the tire barrier on an angle.

Montoya was unhurt but the car lost a wheel.

His engine must now be put into the spare car to avoid a 10-spot penalty from qualifying.

Renault, hoping to rebound following recent problems, had Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli barley making efforts in the wet conditions. Trulli came in 18th in practice and Alonso failed to reord a time.

They are the only non-Ferrari drivers to win a race in almost a year — Alonso winning last August's Hungarian Grand Prix and Trulli winning in Monaco in May.

As the second half of the 18-race season begins, Michael Schumacher is on course for his seventh Formula One title and fifth in a row.

He's 18 points ahead of Barrichello — 0 to 62 — and 36 better than the nearest non-Ferrari driver, BAR-Honda's Jenson Button. — AP

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