SILVERSTONE, England, July 5: Ferrari’s Brazilian Rubens Barrichello led the way in Friday’s first free practice for a British Formula One Grand Prix overshadowed by Arrows’ fight for survival.

The orange liveried cars were conspicuous by their absence from the track, remaining parked in the Arrows garage as rivals ventured out in the rain and spray.

Arrows passed scrutineering a day late, after being allowed a special dispensation by the sport’s governing body when their cars failed to turn up on Thursday.

But that was as far as the team got, their cars immobilised by financial problems, with $4.7 million outstanding to engine suppliers Cosworth.

Cosworth are withholding the engines’ electronic control units until payment is received.

While drivers Heinz-Harald Frentzen of Germany and Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi cooled their heels and waited, they were soon joined surprisingly as spectators by Ferrari’s world champion Michael Schumacher.

The German spun on his second timed lap and came to a halt, his Ferrari eventually coasting to a safe parking place before the four times champion clambered out.

Schumacher, who leads the championship by a massive 46 points from brother Ralf after nine rounds, joined the Arrows men and Toyota’s Mika Salo as the only drivers without a lap time in the opening hour long session.

Barrichello, a renowned master in the wet and winner of the last race in Germany, lapped in one minute 33.531 seconds ahead of Britain’s local hope Jenson Button in a Renault some 1.213 seconds behind.

Scot David Coulthard was third fastest for McLaren, ahead of Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen, while Eddie Irvine made it three Britons in the top five in the revamped Jaguar R3.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, who has started on pole for the past three races without finishing any of them, suffered a blown engine after half an hour.

Montoya was 12th fastest but still quicker than team mate Ralf Schumacher, who set the 16th best time.—Reuters