Half a second behind him, in second place, team mate Juan Pablo Montoya set 1:12.694, just pipping Toyota Friday man Ricardo Zonta on 1:12.706.

A fraction behind these three, in a surprise fourth place, Felipe Massa managed 1:12.710, and the pace of the Sauber was confirmed by seventh place Jacques Villeneuve just half a second slower in the sister car.

The Saubers were split by Rubens Barrichello in fifth place, hoping for a good result in his final home showing for Ferrari, and Championship contender Kimi Raikkonen in the third McLaren.

With Michael Schumacher's Ferrari in eighth place, the top ten is rounded out by Toyota's Jarno Trulli in ninth and Giancarlo Fisichella in the quickest of the Renaults tenth.

Champion to be Fernando Alonso finished just behind his team mate in 11th position.

Behind these, the two Williams BMW's of Mark Webber and Antonio Pizzonia set 12th and 13th times, while the BAR Honda's of Jenson Button and Takuma Sato, in the top five this morning, languish in 17th and 20th positions.