Schumacher sets the pace

Michael Schumacher spearheaded another impressive display of Ferrari’s superiority at their home race in Italy today.

The world champion, who predicted a strong challenge from Williams-BMW at Monza, dominated both opening practice sessions.

Schumacher finished just over 0.2 seconds ahead of Brazilian team-mate Rubens Barrichello who had been bottom of the time-sheets after the first session having encountered technical problems.

The 33-year-old German, who became the first man to win 10 races in a season at the last race, needs just two points on Sunday to break his season record of 123 which he set last year.

Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen posted the third fastest time in his McLaren-Mercedes but was almost 0.6 secs adrift of five-time champion Schumacher.

Eddie Irvine was fourth fastest for Jaguar Racing as he followed up his sixth place in Belgium, the first point the team had scored since he finished fourth in the opening race in Australia last March.

Colombia’s Juan Pablo Montoya, expected to be a strong challenger on a track where he scored his maiden win last year, was fifth fastest for Williams with team-mate Ralf Schumacher seventh behind Toyota’s Mika Salo.

Jenson Button posted the 10th best time in his Renault while Allan McNish was back in 18th spot for Toyota, two off the bottom with the financially-ailing Arrows team not competing for a third successive race.

Fellow Scot David Coulthard wound-up 17th fastest after sliding backwards into a gravel trap early in the second session .

The 31-year-old Scot clipped a tyre barrier as his McLaren finally came too rest after the back-end had slid away from him.