Formula 1: Austrian Grand Prix
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Coulthard fastest 0.001s in front of Fisichella
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[Fri Jul-24 14h00 CET]
The Benetton of Fisichella was fastest in the first 60 minute part of
todays Free Practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix.  His time of 1m
14.380s (209.04kph - 19 Laps) was 0.12s faster than the Ferrari of
M.Schumacher (1m 14.507s - 5L).  The rest of the top six were Coulthard (1m
14.648s - 14L), Wurz (1m 15.028s - 17L), Frentzen (1m 15.345s - 20L) and
Alesi (1m 15.446s- 16L).

The session was held in clear weather and a temperature of 22 degrees C. 
As this circuit is not used a great deal, the surface was very dusty.  Many
drivers were very slow taking to the track hoping that the laps of others
would clear the dirt.

M.Schumacher stayed in the pits for the first 30 minutes.  When he finally
came out his session lasted just 5 laps before he spun off near the stands.
 Teammate Irvine (10th - 1m 15.710s - 10L) also came to grief when he
crashed into Verstappen (18th - 1m 16.721s - 17L) near the end of the
session. This incident is being investigated by the marshalls.

Mechanical problems for Hakkinen (7th - 1m 15.499s - 19L) and Wurz cut
their sessions short.  The top time was set by Fisichella on his final lap
at the very end of the sesson.

By the end of this first part, 1 second covered the first 5 places and 2
seconds covered the first  16.  The number of laps ranged from 5
(M.Schumacher - 2nd) to 25 (Tuero 17th).

By the end of the second 60 minute part of the session the McLaren of
Coulthard (1m 13.703s - 36L) had pushed just 0.001s in front of Fisichella
(1m 13.704s - 43L).  The rest of the top six were  Hakkinen (1m 13.746s -
30L), Herbert (1m 14.103s - 45L), Barrichello (1m 14.302s - 35L) and Wurz
(1m 14.411s - 34L).

As the temperature started to rise so the times began to fall - especially
for those with Bridgestone tyres.  Many drivers had moments off track this
afternon including Frentzen, R. & M. Schumacher, Tuero, Diniz, Wurz and
Rosset.

One second covered the first 11 places and two seconds covered the first
18.  The total number of laps ranged from 25 (M.Schumacher 7th, Frentzen
17th) to 50 (Panis 12th).


Session: 1st Free Practice
Track Times:

Pos  Driver          Team       Lap Time   Laps
 1  D.Coulthard     McLaren     1m 13.703s (36)
 2  G.Fisichella    Benetton    1m 13.704s (43)
 3  M.Hakkinen      McLaren     1m 13.746s (30)
 4  J.Herbert       Sauber      1m 14.103s (45)
 5  R.Barrichello   Stewart     1m 14.302s (35)
 6  A.Wurz          Benetton    1m 14.397s (34)
 7  M.Schumacher    Ferrari     1m 14.411s (25)
 8  E.Irvine        Ferrari     1m 14.523s (31)
 9  D.Hill          Jordan      1m 14.535s (46)
10  J.Alesi         Sauber      1m 14.627s (35)
11  J.Trulli        Prost       1m 14.685s (44)
12  O.Panis         Prost       1m 14.755s (50)
13  J.Villeneuve    Williams    1m 14.820s (39)
14  R.Schumacher    Jordan      1m 15.117s (28)
15  T.Takagi        Tyrrell     1m 15.158s (48)
16  J.Verstappen    Stewart     1m 15.231s (35)
17  H.Frentzen      Williams    1m 15.345s (25)
18  M.Salo          Arrows      1m 15.696s (31)
19  S.Nakano        Minardi     1m 16.171s (43)
20  P.Diniz         Arrows      1m 16.303s (48)
21  E.Tuero         Minardi     1m 16.582s (28)
22  R.Rosset        Tyrrell     1m 18.469s (36)
   ---- 107% ----               1m 18.862s

Average speed of D.Coulthard 210.960km/h

All information is unofficial
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