Mugello test - day three: 2 October.

Michael Schumacher ensured that Ferrari stayed on top of the times at the latest Mugello test, taking his F2003-GA around the Tuscan track quicker than test driver Luca Badoer had managed on Wednesday.

The German joined the test of the first time since winning at Indianapolis on the weekend, and completed a massive number of laps of preparation work for next Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, where he could be crowned as king of the world for the sixth time.

Despite persistent cloud that prevented the day from being warm and sunny, Ferrari filled its third session of the week with tyre testing, electronics and set-up work for the forthcoming Suzuka finale. In all, Schumacher ran 129 laps, with a best time of 1min 22.001secs, eventually completing his workload inside a day rather than the planned two.

As a result, Badoer, who covered an additional 81 laps - with a quickest time of 1min 22.468secs - will be rejoined by Felipe Massa for the fourth and final day on Friday.

The Scuderia again shared the track with a trio of BAR-Hondas, with Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson continuing to spearhead the Brackley team's search for reliability ahead of his appearance in front of Honda's hierarchy next weekend.

Sato's main priority on the team's last day was to confirm the Suzuka tyre choice and development work done on the previous two outings with Honda's Suzuka specification engine. He accomplished 88 laps, with a fastest time of 1min 24.070secs leaving him fourth fastest overall.

Briton Davidson continued with the aerodynamic testing programme begun earlier in the week, before switching to suspension and brake development. He completed 70 laps in all, with a fastest time of 1min 24.031secs just squeezing him in under his team-mate's mark.

BAR also used its final day to give Sweden's FIA F3000 champion, Bj?rn Wirdheim, a chance to get behind the wheel of one of the 005s. The 23-year old was able to compare the car to that which he ran for Jordan in the recent USGP extra testing session, but was not afforded sufficient track time to push for a fast lap. Climbing aboard late in the day, Wirdheim completed just 19 laps, comprising one long familiarisation run and a shorter, five-lap, run in which he set a 1min 26.728secs best.

Leading times (2 October) - Mugello:

Michael Schumacher Ferrari-Ferrari 1min 22.001secs 129 lapsLuca Badoer Ferrari-Ferrari 1min 22.468secs 81 lapsAnthony Davidson BAR-Honda 1min 24.031secs 70 lapsTakuma Sato BAR-Honda 1min 24.070secs 88 lapsBjorn Wirdheim BAR-Honda 1min 26.728secs 19 laps

[all cars on denotes Michelin tyres]

Weather / track conditions: Cloudy and sunny.