| | MELBOURNE, Australia -- Michael Schumacher drove a Ferrari
to the fastest lap during Friday's practice for the Australian
Grand Prix, only to slide off the track and into a concrete wall.
The first official practice of the Formula One season had
produced no surprises until the two-time F-1 champion crashed on
his sixth lap of the second one-hour session.
|  | | Michael Schumacher slides off the track Friday during a practice crash in Melbourne, Australia. |
His spill sparked a spate of other mishaps, with other leading
drivers also sliding off the track on a clear, sunny afternoon.
Schumacher lost control approaching turn 14 on his 15th lap
around the 3.314-mile circuit, his red Ferrari sliding across the
gravel and tearing off front and rear left wheels as it skidded
along the barrier.
The German ace, who was sidelined for seven races last season
after breaking his leg during the British Grand Prix, appeared to
suffer no injuries.
Schumacher accepted a lift on the rear of a steward's motorbike,
smiling and waving at spectators as he returned to the Ferrari
garage.
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TOUGH START FOR TEEN
|
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MELBOURNE -- British driver Jenson Button walked away unscathed from the first big crash of his Formula One career during Saturday's practice for Sunday's
season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old Williams driver, who will be making his debut as Britain's youngest Formula One starter, hit a wall of tires at 160 mph after clipping a curb on a sweeping left-hander.
The impact ripped both rear wheels off his car and the session was stopped for 10 minutes while his wrecked Williams was cleared from the circuit.
Button did not take any part in the remainder of the session, watching the practice on television from the Williams garage.
"I'm OK. I was going very fast," he said. "I hit the curb. I went off."
-- Reuters
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His lap of 129.495 mph stood for more than 40 minutes.
Schumacher conceded the accident was the result of driver error.
"I touched the corner in the wrong position," he said, adding
that he hoped the crew could repair the damage before Saturday.
As expected, McLaren and Ferrari produced the four fastest cars,
with British American Racing providing the big surprise when Jacques Villeneuve pushed his Honda-powered car to the fifth-fastest lap.
McLaren's No. 2 driver, David Coulthard, had the second-best
lap, 129.299 mph.
Schumacher's new teammate, Rubens Barrichello, was third at
129.002 and McLaren's Mika Hakkinen was fourth at 128.696 mph.
After Villeneuve, whose best lap was 127.564, was Pedro Diniz in
a Sauber and Heinz-Harald Frenzen in a Jordan.
Hakkinen, bidding for a third successive Formula One title, slid
out of control on the last lap, performing a full 360 degree turn
under brakes before recovering to complete circuit.
Coulthard also had his share of drama, driving off the track
about 10 minutes into practice before regaining control and
completing 32 laps.
"The car is running strong, it's reliable, which is great -- better than last year," Villeneuve said. "At least we're looking competitive, which is good."
BAR joined the F-1 circuit last season boasting a massive budget
and Villeneuve, a former F-1 champion, behind the wheel. But the
rookies struggled all season, failing to score a single point.
"Yeah, I am surprised," the Canadian said of Friday's
performance. "Although this is a track I've always enjoyed. If I
don't go quick here, I don't think there's anywhere I can go
fast."
Defending race champion Eddie Irvine, who won last year in a
Ferrari but now drives for Jaguar, got in 24 laps before his car
rolled to a stop. He was 10th on the speed list.
"It's going to take us time to develop," the Irishman said of
Jaguar's new entry.
Jenson Button, a 20-year-old rookie driving for Williams, was
18th of 22 cars that posted laps.
Two 45-minute practice sessions are scheduled Saturday before a one-hour qualifying session in the afternoon.
Sunday's Australian GP is first stop of a 17-race season.
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