Length: 5.793 km
Number of Laps: 53 (306.720 Km)
Best Lap: R. Barrichello - 1'21''046 (2004, Ferrari)
Record Pole: R. Barrichello - 1'20''089 (2004, Ferrari)
2005 Pole: JP. Montoya - 1'21''054 (Mclaren)
2005 Podium: JP. Montoya - F. Alonso - G Fisichella

Michael Schumacher, on what is very possibly his last appearance in a Formula One race in Italy, instantly topped the times with a lap in the low 1:23's, a second quicker than the previous fastest man Pedro de la Rosa in the McLaren.

Following him straight away was team mate Felipe Massa, himself very possibly on the verge of another season at the Scuderia, dutifully dropping into second position just a whisker behind his team leader. Also on track as the half hour passed was Kimi Raikkonen, a man also very possibly heading to Maranello for 2007 and beyond, but not quite on the pace here for McLaren.

Duty done, the Ferrari's dived back into the pits to wait for the traditional charge in the final few minutes, leaving the fans to watch as Fernando Alonso wound the Renault up for a challenge and Sebastian Vettel continued on his impressive way for BMW-Sauber.

Anthony Davidson appeared to be having a Honda off-day, his mount stopping out on the circuit as it had this morning. Interesting at this point was that team mates Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, reportedly running the '07' spec Honda engine that took a liking to explosions at the test last week, had not attempted a run with twenty minutes remaining.

Alonso could only net sixth place, behind Raikkonen, on his first attempt - Michelin problems, or is the Ferrari simply too good?

Quarter of an hour remaining and the two Ferrari's still top the times, with the only men other than them under 1:24 being Alex Wurz in the Williams-Cosworth and Pedro de la Rosa in the second McLaren. With Ron Dennis' recent proclamation that the McLaren line up will not be revealed until December, and Raikkonen's expected defection to Ferrari, it remains to be seen whether Pedro has done enough to merit a race seat for next year, or whether he will be moved aside for young hot-shoe Lewis Hamilton.

Personally, I harbour a secret belief that Ferrari have rescued Juan Pablo Montoya or Jacques Villeneuve from NASCAR and oblivion, and that Kimi will remain at McLaren alongside Alonso. Well, it’s more of a wish than a belief.

With little over twelve minutes remaining the tifosi begin cheering once more as the two red cars take to the circuit for another round of attacks. So far the times have been short of what we know is possible by some way - how far will they lower the bar?

Sadly Michael returns to the pits immediately, although Massa puts in a lap. It's nothing special, and he remains in second place.

Man on the move at the ten minute mark is Wurz, looking to shave something off the seven-tenths gap that stands between him and the Ferrari's. He finds a tenth.

Sebastian Vettel winds up the BMW, his first sector the fastest of all. With a middle sector not on the Ferrari pace the young German claws it back with a brilliant final sector and goes top, half a second quicker than Michael, first man in the 1:22's. Aided by softer tyres and more revs he may be, but the BMW looks good at Monza, and Vettel is gunning for a 100% record in Friday afternoon sessions following his sensational debut last time out.

Five minutes to go and a whole host of cars emerge, both McLarens and both Renaults among them. Sensing a possible 'occasion', perhaps, Michael joins the fray too along with Massa.

Suddenly on the pace is Robert Kubica, confirming the BMW-Saubers potential this weekend. His last sector is compromised and he backs off for another run.

One minute to go and still no sign of movement from Barrichello or Button in the Honda pit. This does not bode well for them following Davidson’s double failure.

Meanwhile Vettel, having pitted for new tyres, is positively flying with another fastest first sector. Again his middle sector is not the best, and he fails to better his time. No-one, however, looks like coming close.

With the flag shown, then, it is Sebastian Vettel in the BMW-Sauber who again tops the Friday afternoon time sheet with 1:22.631, leading the two Ferrari's of Schumacher and Massa by half a second.

Fourth is Wurz for Williams, with the McLarens of de la Rosa and Raikkonen filling the top six. Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica posted seventh and ninth fastest despite very little running, indeed a mere five laps for the Polish pilot, with Fernando Alonso in the Renault between them.

In tenth place, and remarkably so, is Franck Montagny in the Super Aguri. Yes, that’s tenth place. It is perhaps notable that the tenth slot is almost two and a half seconds off the fastest here, where we would usually expect it to be within a second or so, but it is still a noteworthy performance for the Frenchman who should surely be racing rather than testing.

Also worthy of note is Christijan Albers, the Dutchman doing the Midland equipe not harm with a fine eleventh fastest, and no doubt furthering the chances of the rumoured buy out becoming reality, Christijan outpacing both Toyotas of Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher who occupy 12th and 17th respectively.

The remainder of the field is the usual mix of Red Bulls, Toro Rosso’s, Midlands, Williams and Super Aguri's, with neither of the Hondas, as mentioned, setting a time.

Now we move to Saturday for the 'meaningful' sessions, with the Ferraris looking very fast, the BMW-Saubers looking very promising, and the Renaults and McLarens, as usual, unpredictable on Fridays.