Mercedes (and oh, yeah, McLaren) 1-2 at the end of the first day.

In the interest of full disclosure, while I may drive a M-B, I am a rabid <I>tifosi</i>, so I will cheer when Schumi and Barrichello finish the <I>race</i> 1-2

 

Whoa, the McLarens were actually quickest today in the free practice sessions. I guess the weather is really warm which suits the Micheleins (Ferrari was the only team on Bridgestones in the top 10). They usually go quick on Friday which is when the teams work on race set-ups. One of McLaren's problems this year is they don't work as well on Saturday qualifying; but then usually have a good run during the race itself.

Hopefully, one of the boys can score a podium to make up for the Silverstone debacle.

Other tidbits - the Jags were surprising fast, although I expect this won't be the case tomorrow. Also the Arrows didn't run today - I'm beginning to wonder if they'll even make it to the end of the year.

1 David Coulthard McLaren 1m14.025s
2 Kimi Raikkonen McLaren 1m14.097s
3 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1m14.240s
4 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 1m14.750s
5 Ralf Schumacher Williams 1m14.970s
6 Eddie Irvine Jaguar 1m14.983s
7 Mika Salo Toyota 1m15.161s
8 Pedro de la Rosa Jaguar 1m15.179s
9 Jenson Button Renault 1m15.218s
10 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams 1m15.271s

Cheers, BT

 

David Coulthard topped the time sheets in a Michelin dominated Friday
Free Practice at Magny-Cours today. He was followed by his McLaren team
mate Kimi Raikkonen, just seven one hundreds of a second slower after a
strong day for the Woking-based team. Michael Schumacher was third after
a few uncharacteristic slips and slides and Rubens Barrichello was
fourth - also the victim of a spin on the slippery tarmac.
http://www.formula1.com/races/racene...ipractice.html

The high track temperatures saw Michelin pull ahead of their rivals,
Bridgestone, and the top ten (all but the two Ferrari drivers at least)
consisted of their partner teams at the end of the day. Ralf Schumacher
was fifth after a fairly low key day that saw him work on chassis set-up
and balance and Eddie Irvine was sixth, perhaps marking a big
improvement for Jaguar.
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines02/07/s10071.html

Mika Salo stayed seventh after his late-in-the-day climb through the
listings. He pulled of track towards the end of the afternoon session
with smoke at the rear of his Toyota but retained his place just outside
the top six. Pedro de la Rosa was eighth continuing Jaguar's good
fortunes in the baking French sunshine.
http://www.formula1.com/races/racene...acticefri.html

Jenson Button was ninth at his team's home event and Juan Pablo Montoya
finished tenth after a huge spin, which saw him pirouette through
several rotations shedding bodywork as he went, confined him to the pits
for a large chunk of the second practice.
http://www.formula1.com/races/france/tour.html

Allan McNish was eleventh - another strong performance from the Scot -
while Giancarlo Fisichella ended up twelfth after several trips across
the grass. Felipe Massa was thirteenth and Olivier Panis ended up
fourteenth at his home Grand Prix.

Takuma Sato was fifteenth after his coming together with Salo in the
morning - the pair collided whilst Salo was on a timed lap and Sato on
an out lap through the undulating Imola chicane. Both cars were forced
to pit - with Salo having to sit out some of the session while repairs
were made to the steering arm of his TF102.

Nick Heidfeld ended up sixteenth whilst battling through the day with a
heavy head cold, Jacques Villeneuve was a disappointing seventeenth and
Mark Webber impressed again to finish eighteenth. Jarno Trulli was
nineteenth after spinning out session two early on and Alex Yoong
brought up the rear of the field in twentieth - he missed some of the
afternoon with gearbox problems. Neither Arrows driver took to the track
while talks continue between team bosses and existing shareholders.

This is a challenging track that leaves teams chasing set-up all weekend
as it is so reactive to ambient conditions. It is often very hot, and
has a very smooth surface, meaning durability and traction from tyres is
all important. Once again it is expected to be hot and sunny for
qualifying tomorrow, so check back then to see if Montoya can take a
fifth consecutive pole position.

 

Everyone was driving on race setups. DC's best time was 1.25(+-) seconds over last year's pole. The one impressive item was that Michelin shod cars populated all but two of the top ten times. It is Michelin's home GP, in the middle of (hot) July, as well, so it looks good for the Williams and McLaren teams.

 

Steve Matchett said that he doubts that Michael Schumacher will win the race, if he has the chance to because he wants to win it in front of the home crowd at Germany in two weeks.

I am predicting that DC will win this one.