Trulli fastest as title contenders hold back

Published September 27, 2003

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept 26: Formula One’s title contenders held their fire in U.S. Grand Prix free practice on Friday as Italian Jarno Trulli lapped fastest on a wet Indianapolis track.

Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher, who could win a record sixth championship in Sunday’s penultimate race of the season, clocked the fifth fastest time behind his Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, three points adrift of Schumacher in second place, was eighth fastest for Williams after running off track in the first three minutes.

McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen was ninth on the timesheets with the top 11 drivers separated by less than a second.

After the session, the three championship rivals were brought together on the yard of bricks that marks the start/finish line at ‘The Brickyard’ for a group photograph with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.—Reuters