The Brazilian best time of 1:20.555, however, was still slower than Michael Schumacher's best lap of 1:20.526 and well adrift of Antonio Pizzonia's fastest lap in testing last week of 1:20.010, highlighting the possibility that teams still have more speed to come despite Barrichello clocking 364kmh!

Juan Pablo Montoya was second fastest for Williams who seem to be the closest competition to Ferrari, with Jenson Button clocking the third fastest time of 1:20.734 as his BAR team re-introduced a modified version of their previously banned Front Torque Transfer system.

Fernando Alonso gave Renault a boost by not only clocking the fourth fastest time but proved that the French engine could also pack a punch as the Spaniard equaled Barrichello's top speed of 364kmh. Takuma Sato confirmed BAR's pace in fifth with Kimi Raikkonen the fastest McLaren in eighth, 0.3 seconds adrift of Barrichello.

Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher was seventh fastest, ahead of Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia who was back on track after suffering a 300kmh crash yesterday when his brakes failed. McLaren's David Coulthard completed the top nine, 0.503 seconds off the pace.

The session was yellow flagged for five minutes when Giorgio Pantano lost control of his Jordan under braking for the Rettifilo chicane, sending him sideways into the Minardi of Zsolt Baulgartner who was ahead of him. Both drivers were unharmed.