Schumacher reasserts supremacy in early practice

Michael Schumacher reasserted his supremacy as practice resumed for the Austrian Grand Prix in Zeltweg.

He finished the penultimate session before qualifying on the A1-Ring quicker by more than half-a-second from Rubens Barrichello.

Schumacher had been second-quickest overnight behind Barrichello, but wasted no time regaining top spot.

The battle for pole position looks set to be a private duel between the two Ferrari drivers for the third race running, with the rest of the challengers well adrift in practice.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen was third-quickest but he was a massive 1.5 seconds adrift of Schumacher.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen clocked the fourth-best time late in the 45-minute Saturday session in the OrangeArrows car with which he scored the team's first point of the campaign with sixth place in Barcelona a fortnight ago.

Sauber's Felipe Massa was fifth with McLaren's David Coulthard, who won the race last year, sixth but over 1.8 secs off the pace set by the four-time champion.

Jenson Button was ninth in the Renault but the Williams duo of Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher were both well back.

Montoya was 12th fastest while Schumacher junior was 17th. Allan McNish was 16th for Toyota with Ireland's Eddie Irvine 19th in the Jaguar.