Cristiano da Matta was first out for today's sole free practice session, the Brazilian followed by Frentzen, Ralf, Raikkonen, Panis, Button, Montoya, Heidfeld and Coulthard.

Da Matta and Frentzen returned to their garages but Ralf stayed out as did Raikkonen, the German setting the benchmark at 1:24.846, while the Finn was 0.77s slower.

Four minutes into the session and Michael Schumacher comes out, the crowd signals its delight, a lot is expected of the German this weekend.

Ralf is still quickest, though Raikkonen has closed the gap, with Montoya third and Coulthard fourth. On his first flying lap however Michael goes quickest by 1.394s, the crowd is ecstatic.

Antonio Pizzonia repeats his free testing form and goes second fastest on his first flying lap, a mere 0.222s off Schumacher's time. Meanwhile Coulthard goes third fastest.

It's a nice bright sunny morning, though a little fresh. The prospect for Saturday and Sunday however is rain.

1:23.426 and Pizzonia goes quickest, seems like the test session really helped him prepare for practice, getting the car nicely set up. That said we're only ten minutes into the session so a lot can happen, has the Brazilian got more in reserve.

1:23.965 and F1's 'beautiful one' Mark Webber goes third quickest ahead of Coulthard, da Matta and Ralf. We've yet to see Rubens, Verstappen, Alonso, Fisichella, Firman and Wilson.

Heidfeld goes fourth quickest, the German keen to put on a good show here, Olivier Panis meanwhile goes eighth.

Fifteen minutes gone: Pizzonia, Michael, Webber, Heidfeld, Coulthard, da Matta, Ralf, Panis, Raikkonen and Montoya.

Barrichello finally comes out and immediately goes third quickest slotting in neatly behind his team-mate. Still no sign of Alonso, Fisichella, Firman or Wilson.

Frentzen posts the fastest time of the day in sector two with personal bests in one and three, 1:23.490 the German goes third.

Despite having completed the most laps the two BARs are struggling, both more than two seconds off the pace. The Canadian completes more laps but isn't making any impression, unless he's experimenting with fuel loads. The fact that Button is posting similar times would seem to discount this.

Twenty four minutes gone and Wilson comes out, the Englishman immediately going quickest. At this point only the two Jordans have yet to appear.

Pizzonia is on track attempting to improve his time but stops in the second sector, more problems for the R4?

Brazil winner Giancarlo Fisichella finally comes out with a 1:23.267 the Italian goes straight to the top of the timesheets, what is this guy on, whatever it is we want some of it!

Sneaky little Fernando Alonso meanwhile has quietly nipped into sixth place just as Wilson stops in sector three.

Half-time and with a 1:23.604 Rubens goes quickest ahead of Fisichella, Pizzonia, Michael, Frentzen, Alonso, Webber, Heidfeld, Coulthard and Raikkonen. Ralph Firman is the only driver yet to set a time.

In some ways this is a typical Friday session - at least ass far as the new regs are concerned - with the McLarens and the WilliamsF1s biding their time. That said the lowly positions of the BARS, and the Toyota for that matter, cannot be intentional.

Ralph Firman goes eighth on his first flying lap, mighty impressive, he's less than a second off the pace.

1:23.243 and Webber goes quickest though his moment of glory is short-lived as Montoya goes quicker, then quicker still. 1:21.852 is the new benchmark, that's 0.7s slower than the 2002 pole time.

Raikkonen goes eighth, albeit 1.7s off the pace. Montoya is now out there on his own, he's more than a second quicker than his nearest rival, the next eleven drivers are covered by a mere second.

Suddenly, Jarno Trulli, who had been having a poor session, goes second with a 1:23.051, still a full second off Montoya's time.

Fifteen minutes remaining: Montoya, Trulli, Barrichello, Webber, Fisichella, Pizzonia, Schumacher, Frentzen, Raikkonen and Alonso.

Alonso is on a very fast lap - there must be yellow flags out - setting fastest time in sector two. 1:22.900 he goes second fastest to Jenson Button, who has suddenly - out of nowhere - posted a 1:22.774 to go second. Where on earth did that come from?

Just as well really because BAR's other driver Jacques Villeneuve - according to pitpass readers the truly beautiful one - has come to a stop in sector one.

Montoya's at it again, he posts fastest time in sector one as Ralf post a personal best in the same sector. Another best in sector two for the Colombian, another personal best for his German team-mate. 1:21.409 for Montoya but Ralf is even quicker with a 1:21.335.

How does Ralf with no best times (only personal bests) beat Montoya's time which had two best of the day times. This is very odd and doesn't make sense. Remember Ralf didn't have a single best of session sector on that lap.

1:22.121 and Coulthard goes third quickest, the McLaren and WilliamsF1s finally showing their hand.

Alonso goes fourth quickest, leap-frogging Button, who is momentarily usurped by Frentzen.

With the Ferraris in ninth and twelfth, the Tifosi fidget uncomfortably in their seats.

1:22.056 and Webber goes third, this guy absolutely refuses to be locked out of the party. Interesting to note that Button (sixth) is the highest Bridgestone runner.

Ralf is on a very fast lap, a best of day in sector two, as Michael goes tenth with a 1:23.057, 1.722s off the pace.

The session is virtually over and now all attention focuses on this afternoon's qualifying hour, which is going to be crucial considering the weather forecasts.

Ralf Schumacher fastest ahead of Montoya, Webber, Coulthard, Alonso, Button, Frentzen, Trulli, Barrichello and Michael.