SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS (Belgium), Aug 30: Kimi Raikkonen pushed dominant Ferrari down the timesheets as McLaren led the way in Friday’s practice for the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix.

Raikkonen, set to be Finland’s sole Formula One driver with Mika Salo following Mika Hakkinen into retirement at the end of the year, lapped the longest circuit in the championship in one minute 47.196 seconds.

The time, on a cloudy day with morning fog delaying practice by an hour, was well inside last year’s pole position mark but the track layout has been amended slightly.

Team mate David Coulthard completed a first day McLaren one-two as the second quickest, in 1:47.356, while Ferrari’s five times world champion Michael Schumacher was third on the timesheets in 1:47.403.

Practice times: 1. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1 minute 47.196 seconds; 2. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:47.356; 3. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:47.403; 4. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1:48.321; 5. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:48.435; 6. Jenson Button (Britain) Renault 1:48.778; 7. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) Jaguar 1:48.902; 8. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:48.969; 9. Eddie Irvine (Britain) Jaguar 1:49.222; 10. Mika Salo (Finland) Toyota 1:49.260; 11. Allan McNish (Britain) Toyota 1:49.560; 12. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:49.603; 13. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:49.897; 14. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1:50.144; 15. Takuma Sato (Japan) Jordan 1:50.357; 16. Olivier Panis (France) BAR 1:50.392; 17. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Sauber 1:51.068; 18. Anthony Davidson (Britain) Minardi 1:51.270; 19. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:51.355; 20. Mark Webber (Australia) Minardi 1:52.343—Reuters