ANTHONY DAVIDSON was the fastest Friday morning driver in Formula One practice for the United States Grand Prix, with a lap of 1min 12.083secs.
Sixteen of 29 drivers were on course, but the numbers are deceptive. Most of the laps were turned by the Friday test drivers. The regular
F1 drivers either sat it out completely or took what is called an 'installation' lap, which is once around the course and park.
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER provided a bit of excitement when he did a slow spin off driver's left at Turn Four and was trapped in the gravel pit. Ever the hands-on driver, Schumacher was with the car and directing the tow crew every inch of the way back to the garage.
SCOTT SPEED, the only American driver in
Formula One, had a short start to his first practice session at the USGP. He got as far as pit exit, when he experienced what he thought was trouble with the pit-lane cruise control. He talked to his team on the radio and walked back to the pits with his car to be pushed back shortly thereafter. He later rejoined the session and was ninth fastest.
Many of the teams had more than one live TV going, watching the Germany-Argentina World Cup soccer match. Germany won. Among those glued to the sets were drivers FERNANDO ALONSO, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA and RALF SCHUMACHER, as well as NORBERT HAUG, the motorsports director of Mercedes Benz.
The weather was warm and sunny - low eighties F, not a bit like Wednesday, which had a lot of rain.
With its strict media credential requirements, there are only a few American journalists covering the race. There is only one full-time American journalist covering Formula One with an annual FIA-issued F1 media credential. The others have what are called 'National' credentials for this one race.
