Schumacher Quickest In Opening Gp Prctice.
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher topped the timesheets in the opening Grand Prix practice session in Melbourne today.
The German clocked a time almost half a second cler of his rivals as rain hampered any attempt to compaer drivers and teams. This is the first time that the Ferrari has run on the same circuit as it's main rivals and Schumacher expressed his relief both at being competitive and having an extended run in the car.
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher topped the timesheets in the opening Grand Prix practice session in Melbourne today.
The German clocked a time almost half a second cler of his rivals as rain hampered any attempt to compaer drivers and teams. This is the first time that the Ferrari has run on the same circuit as it's main rivals and Schumacher expressed his relief both at being competitive and having an extended run in the car.
Behind Schumacher came Mika Hakkinen, confirming his teams billing as front-runners, reigning champion Jaques Villeneuve, and the Benetton of Alex Wurz. Britain's David Coulthard was fifth.
Elsewhere, the top ten lacked many of the expected names, with Germany's Heinz-Harald-Frentzen (10th), Damon Hill (13th), Eddie Irivine (17th) and Giancarlo Fisichella (20th) all lower than expected. Hill, especially, had a torrid time, suffering two spins across the grass as he experimented with a hand-operated clutch.
Untimed Practice - Australian GP - Friday 6 March 1998
| 1 | Michael Schumacher | Germany | Ferrari-Ferrari | 1min 33 826 secs |
| 2 | Mika Hakkinen | Finland | McLaren-Mercedes | 1min 34 432 secs |
| 3 | Jacques Villeneuve | Canada | Williams-Mecachrome | 1min 35 023 secs |
| 4 | Alex Wurz | Austria | Benetton-Mecachrome | 1min 35 270 secs |
| 5 | David Coulthard | Britain | McLaren-Mercedes | 1min 35 409 secs |
| 6 | Ralf Schumacher | Germany | Jordan-Mugen | 1min 35 708 secs |
| 7 | Johnny Herbert | Britain | Sauber-Petronas | 1min 35 876 secs |
| 8 | Jean Alesi | France | Sauber-Petronas | 1min 36 095 secs |
| 9 | Jarno Trulli | Italy | Prost-Peugeot | 1min 36 231 secs |
| 10 | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Germany | Williams-Mecachrome | 1min 36 791 secs |
| 11 | Mika Salo | Finland | Arrows-Arrows | 1min 36 897 secs |
| 12 | Reubens Barrichello | Brazil | Stewart-Ford | 1min 37 023 secs |
| 13 | Damon Hill | Britain | Jordan-Mugen | 1min 37 102 secs |
| 14 | Olivier Panis | France | Prost-Peugeot | 1min 37 102 secs |
| 15 | Ricardo Rosset | Brazil | Tyrrell Ford | 1min 37 144 secs |
| 16 | Jan Magnussen | Denmark | Stewart-Ford | 1min 37 605 secs |
| 17 | Eddie Irvine | Britain | Ferrari-Ferrari | 1min 37 891 secs |
| 18 | Pedro Diniz | Brazil | Arrows-Arrows | 1min 37 928 secs |
| 19 | Tora Takagi | Japan | Tyrrell-Ford | 1min 38 817 secs |
| 20 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Italy | Benetton-Mecachrome | 1min 33 826 secs |
| 21 | Shinji Nakano | Japan | Minardi-Ford | 1min 39 044 secs |
| 22 | Esteban Tuero | Argentina | Minardi-Ford | 2min 16 609 secs |
