F1: Schuey leads in Barcelona

Friday free practice in Barcelona saw a few unusual names to the fore but it was Michael Schumacher, as ever, who was the man in control.

The world championship leader put in a mammoth 45-lap stint to go fastest in both hour-long sessions. However, his closest pursuers were not the usual suspects.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen was second for Arrows as he went some way to showing the so far unfulfilled promise of the A23 chassis. Frentzen’s car looked well balanced and stable through Barcelona’s quick corners.

However, the presence of Frentzen’s team-mate Enrique Bernoldi in sixth place may suggest Arrows’ pace is not entirely genuine.

Jenson Button continued his excellent recent form to go third fastest behind Schumacher and Frentzen. The Brit is looking for his fourth consecutive top-five finish this weekend.

Rubens Barrichello was fourth in the other Ferrari ahead of Olivier Panis who did a good job in the BAR. The Frenchman did more laps anyone else in his quest to find a good set-up for tomorrow's qualifying session.

McLaren and Williams had a pretty unspectacular opening day in Spain. Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard were seventh and 12th respectively while Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya languished down in 15th and 17th at a track not expected to suit their Michelin rubber.