Schumacher fastest in practice

Michael Schumacher swept to the top of the time-sheets as practice resumed at the French Grand Prix in Magny-Cours.

The German finished the penultimate session before qualifying just over 0.5 seconds ahead of Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen was third fastest almost 0.7secs adrift of Schumacher with fellow McLaren-Mercedes driver David Coulthard fourth - just over a second slower than the fastest time.

Sauber's Felipe Massa was fifth while Montoya was sixth just ahead of Ralf Schumacher in the other Williams.

Britain's Jenson Button posted the eighth-fastest time for Renault while Eddie Irvine was 12th quickest in the heavily-revised Jaguar R3 and Allan McNish was 17th in the Toyota.

The Arrows of Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Enrique Bernoldi again did not take part in free practice, but boss Tom Walkinshaw says they will go out for qualifying.