Raikkonen's lap of one minute 44.701 seconds in the second session was fastest at Spa-Francorchamps, back on the Formula One calendar after a one-year absence because of a tobacco advertising ban.

Finn Raikkonen, last year's championship runner-up to Michael Schumacher, has endured a poor season having retired from seven of the 13 grands prix but he was three-tenths of a second quicker than BAR's Jenson Button.

Australian Briscoe, driving in only his second Grand Prix, did not enjoy such a fruitful day, however, after crashing at the infamous Eau Rouge corner.

He lost control of his car heading into the 290kph corner, lost two wheels and came to rest at the side of the track after a colliding with the tyre barriers.

The rookie, classified as the 19th quickest driver in the second session, walked away from the crash without any serious injury, giving the thumbs up to the crowd as he left his mangled car.

Schumacher, who will wrap up his seventh world title if he wins for the 13th time in 14 races this season on Sunday, set the third best time behind Button.

German Schumacher had a moment of panic when he lost the rear end of his car heading into the Stavelot corner and his wheels ran over the gravel before he was able to continue.

The Ferrari driver had earlier been outpaced by BAR's third driver Anthony Davidson in the morning session.

Englishman Davidson was fourth quickest in the afternoon ahead of BAR team mate Takuma Sato, of Japan, with McLaren's David Coulthard sixth and Williams driver Antonio Pizzonia seventh.

Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello, the only man who can prevent Schumacher landing a seventh world title, was eighth quickest in the afternoon having been third fastest in the morning.