Schumacher shows his class

Michael Schumacher topped the standings at the end of opening practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

And the five-times champion is now primed for his latest assault on the grand prix record books.

Another victory for Schumacher at the Hungaroring on Sunday will be his 10th this season, beating the mark of nine he has now set four times.

The second record is the little known triple race feat of pole position, fastest lap and overall victory, with Schumacher one behind the late Jim Clark, who managed the feat 11 times during his career.

Schumacher clocked one minute 16.346 seconds at the circuit east of Budapest, more than six tenths faster than Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

Schumacher did lose the car at one point during the second session as the onlooking fans enjoyed a spin-fest in a 10-minute spell as Barrichello went off the track, Ralf Schumacher ploughed through the gravel and David Coulthard punctured a left rear tyre in clipping a kerb.

The Williams BMW of Ralf Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen in the McLaren were the only other drivers within a second of the leading Ferrari, with the Jordans of Giancarlo Fisichella and Takuma Sato completing the top six.

Anthony Davidson, his very first taste of F1, was fined after just 13 seconds in the Minardi after he exceeded the 60kmh pit lane speed limit by 3.6kmh, incurring a fine of £650.

But there was some joy for Davidson as he did not prop up the field, finishing 19th in 1:19.940 and ahead of team-mate Mark Webber by just 0.036secs.

Coulthard claimed seventh in the other McLaren, with the Renault of Jenson Button in 10th, while the Jaguar of Eddie Irvine was 13th and Allan McNish in the Toyota was 18th.