Sports > McLaren set pace, Schumacher hits wall

The German, likely to be mathematically out of contention for the championship after Sunday's race at Ferrari's home track, lost control at the fast Parabolica corner and skidded across the gravel.

He was fatalistic about the weekend starting in such a poor fashion for a team now struggling after a dominant 2004.

"When you are not as competitive as you want to be, you try everything you can to improve and my spin was partly the result of that," said the seven-times world champion.

"I made some changes to the set-up but it made the car a bit unstable which made me slide off the track."

The German became an unhappy spectator, standing behind the barrier for the remaining half hour of the session to watch McLaren live up to their billing as race favourites.

The team filled three of the top four places in an afternoon session topped by Toyota's test driver Ricardo Zonta.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, who broke the outright lap record in testing last week with a time of 1:19.813, was second quickest in a McLaren.

Team mate and title contender Kimi Raikkonen, 24 points adrift of Renault's Spanish leader Fernando Alonso with five races remaining, was third in both sessions.

Ahead of all in the morning was Spanish test driver Pedro de la Rosa by more than a second and a half.

His time of one minute 20.201 seconds was the fastest of the day and well inside the race lap record set by Ferrari's Brazilian Rubens Barrichello last year.

Zonta lapped later in 1:20.531 after De la Rosa was stopped by a transmission problem.

"We were quick here and looking strong and consistent," said Montoya. "There is still a long way to go and we have to remain reliable throughout the weekend to achieve the result that our times today promise."

WILLIAMS IMPROVE

Australian Mark Webber prevented a McLaren sweep in the morning and his Williams was again fast in the second hour-long stint with the fifth best time ahead of German team mate Nick Heidfeld.

That came as a boost for the BMW-powered team after both their cars were forced to retire from the last race in Turkey due to repeat tire failures.

"We have a bit of work to do tonight but we are not looking too bad at all," said Webber.

Raikkonen is chasing his third win in a row and sixth of the season to put pressure on Alonso.

The Spaniard and Italian team mate Giancarlo Fisichella failed to set a time in the morning, a regular feature of the season in opening practice with engines having to last two races, but were 10th and ninth in the second.

"It was not too bad a day for me," said Alonso. "The track conditions were not as good as last week in the test, because it was much hotter and that made the car harder to drive.

"Today's runs were just to confirm what we found in the test... overall I think we are in quite a strong position."

Renault are nine points clear of McLaren in the constructor's championship. Champions Ferrari are third, 44 points adrift of the leaders.

2005-09-03