'No passing' plan rejected

Schumacher's Ferrari sports a black nose in mourning

The Italian Grand Prix will start under normal conditions - despite efforts to impose a no-overtaking rule through the two chicanes on the first lap.

World champion Michael Schumacher had announced the proposal following an impromptu meeting with all drivers as a mark of respect to the race marshal who died last year.

But a series of meeting between Formula One impresario Bernie Ecclestone, race director Charlie Whiting and Schumacher concluded the race would not be started under yellow warning flags.

We have a question whether we should be racing

Michael Schumacher

"As far as the regulations are concerned, they will be the same regulations as the last race," said Ecclestone.

With exception of BAR's Jacques Villeneuve, all the drivers agreed to the proposal to commemorate the race marshal, as well as the victims of the terrorist attacks on Washington and New York on 11 September.

Schumacher also said the move was a tribute to former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi, who is in a critical condition after a high-speed crash at a Cart race in Germany on Saturday.

"After things which have happened in the United States and with one driver in hospital badly hurt, we have a question whether we should be racing," Schumacher said.

"After what happened last year it was decided that after the start there would be no overtaking over the first two chicanes. One driver did not agree."

South American one-two

Earlier, Michael Schumacher was fastest in the final warm-up, but he drew little enthusiasm from an unusually sober crowd.

The German world champion, who drove a Ferrari with a black nose in a gesture of mourning for the victims of the terrorist attacks in America, clocked the fastest lap of one minute, 26.029 seconds.

David Coulthard was second in his McLaren Mercedes, while Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya - who sits on pole for the race - third in his Williams BMW.

Rubens Barrichello, Schumacher's Brazilian team-mate, was fourth ahead of Kimi Raikkonen's Sauber.

Montoya and Barrichello start from the front row in Sunday's GP, with Schumacher joined by his brother Ralf on row two.

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Sunday morning practice at Monza:

1. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1min 26.029sec
2. David Coulthard (Gbr) McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.086
3. Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) Williams-BMW 1:26.247
4. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari 1:26.296
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Sauber-Petronas 1:26.389
6. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Jordan-Honda 1:26.446
7. Jean Alesi (Fra) Jordan-Honda 1:26.778
8. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Williams-BMW 1:26.792
9. Mika Hakkinen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.825
10. Jacques Villeneuve (Can) BAR-Honda 1:27.161
11. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Sauber-Petronas 1:27.218
12. Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) Jaguar 1:27.351
13. Eddie Irvine (Gbr) Jaguar 1:27.458
14. Jos Verstappen (Ned) Arrows-Asiatech 1:27.548
15. Olivier Panis (Fra) BAR-Honda 1:27.708
16. Enrique Bernoldi (Bra) Arrows-Asiatech 1:27.766
17. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Benetton-Renault 1:28.137
18. Jenson Button (Gbr) Benetton-Renault 1:28.633
19. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Ger) Prost-Acer 1:28.752
20. Fernando Alonso (Spa) European Minardi 1:29.027
21. Alex Yoong (Mas) European Minardi 1:29.826
22. Tomas Enge (Cze) Prost-Acer 1:30.445