Schumi smashes track record

Sato crashed his Jordan-Honda but was unhurt

Michael Schumacher broke his own Albert Park record on the way to finishing top of the time-sheets in practice ahead of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix.

Saturday's practice sessions were marked by a crash involving Takuma Sato's Jordan-Honda. The Japanese rookie was unhurt.

That incident interrupted practice but 33-year-old world champion Schumacher did not let it knock his concentration.

Driving a development version of last season's F2001 car, Schumacher blasted around the lakeside street circuit in one minute 26.177 seconds, with Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello second quickest in 1:26.331.

Both times, set on a damp and overcast Melbourne morning, were well inside Schumacher's record pole position of 1:26.892 from last year.

Impressive

Schumacher, bidding for a record-equalling fifth drivers' crown this year, took top spot in the time-sheets by 0.1 seconds from Barrichello.

Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya was 1.2secs off the pace, while team-mate Ralf Schumacher was fourth quickest followed by the McLaren duo of David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen.

Renault's Jenson Button was in 13th spot while Allan McNish continued his impressive debut for fellow grid newcomers Toyota Racing with 15th.

Eddie Irvine, though, was back in 17th place with fellow Jaguar Racing driver Pedro de la Rosa a lowly 21st.

Regulations

Sato suffered the first crash of his Formula One career but was unhurt and finished 19th.

The 25-year-old brought the penultimate practice session on Saturday to a stop after smacking into a tyre barrier having lost control of his Jordan-Honda at a tight, right-handed corner.

The car was badly damaged but Jordan said they should be able to repair it for the race.

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Leading times from Saturday's free practice sessions for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix:

1 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari one minute 26.177 seconds

2 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari 1:26.331

3 Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) Williams 1:27.394

4 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Williams 1:27.424

5 David Coulthard (GB) McLaren 1:27.505

6 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren 1:27.635

7 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Sauber 1:28.295

8 Jacques Villeneuve (Can) BAR 1:28.557

9 Olivier Panis (Fra) BAR 1:28.570

10 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Jordan 1:28.605