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INDIANAPOLIS, Sept 28: Formula One champion Michael Schumacher put Ferrari ahead of the rest in U.S. Grand Prix practice Friday while team mate Rubens Barrichello slammed his car into a concrete wall.
On a day of highs and lows for the Italian team, Schumacher said his motivation was as firm as ever while Barrichello failed to clock a time.
Winner of the last Italian Grand Prix, the Brazilian dipped into the damp grass verge on the exit of turn 13 into the straight, spun 360 degrees and jinked across the track before hitting the wall broadside.
The impact at around 300kph, at the end of the Barrichello’s opening installation lap on an overcast and damp morning, ripped off the left rear wheel and left a light scattering of debris across the asphalt.
Barrichello clambered out, his day over without a fast lap on the board but with a place in history as the first Formula One driver to hit the outside retaining wall since Indianapolis began hosting the Grand Prix in 2000.
U.S. GRAND PRIX PRACTICE TIMES:
1. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari one minute 13.548 seconds. 2. Eddie Irvine (Britain) Jaguar 1:14.123 3. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:14.919 4. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:14.986 5. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:15.035 6. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber 1:15.136 7. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1:15.209 8. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:15.256 9. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:15.260 10. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:15.291 11. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) Jaguar 1:15.304 12. Mika Salo (Finland) Toyota 1:15.421 13. Jenson Button (Britain) Renault 1:15.548 14. Allan McNish (Britain) Toyota 1:15.589 15. Mark Webber (Australia) Minardi 1:15.629 16. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:15.632 17. Takuma Sato (Japan) Jordan 1:15.659 18. Olivier Panis (France) BAR 1:15.941 19. Alex Yoong (Malaysia) Minardi 1:16.138 20. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari no time—Reuters
