Minardi set the pace

FIRST QUALIFYING TIMES 1. Verstappen, Minardi, 1:20.817 secs 2. Firman, Jordan, 1:23.496 3. Heidfeld, Sauber, 1:24.042 4. Panis, Toyota, 1:24.175 5. Villeneuve, Canada, BAR-Honda, 1:24.651 Times & standings More photos from France

Jos Verstappen led the way after the first qualifying session at the French Grand Prix.

With conditions drying out after early rain and suiting those drivers that went out last, the Minardi pair of Verstappen and Justin Wilson recorded times that were at least 2.5 seconds quicker than the rest of the field.

But Briton Wilson's car was later found to be 2.5kg underweight and his second fastest time was scrapped from the records.

He will now be first out in Saturday's qualifying session instead of going out second last.

Dutchman Verstappen's time of 1:20.817 seconds was nearly seven seconds quicker than that of world champion Michael Schumacher.

Jordan's Ralph Firman clocked the third fastest time with a lap of 1:23.496.

All the action as it happened

"The track dried out and the white lines were slippy but we pushed for the result," said Verstappen.

"We always have to push in all sectors and go for it because we all know that we are not as quick as the others.

"Normally, on a Saturday we wouldn't have a chance but a lot depends on the weather.

"The other teams have more horsepower and more downforce so we can't compete with them.

"This is the sort of result we would like every weekend but we know the situation with the team. Hopefully, there will be more days like this."

The lead changed hand regularly during the final stage of the session as the track dried considerably and allowed for much faster times.

Perhaps the best performance came from BAR's Jacques Villeneuve, who had missed free practice after his team's cars had been impounded by French police.

BAR got a court ruling to allow them to compete in the race and on his first drive on the new circuit, Villeneuve went round in a time of 1:24.651 which briefly made him the quickest.

But team-mate Jenson Button crawled home last in 1:30.731.

BAR cleared to drive

It meant that the Ferrari pair of Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher will start Saturday's final qualifying from the middle of the grid.

It was a bad day for Ferrari after the team were fined £6,500 following a pit-lane collision involving Michael Schumacher and Jaguar's Mark Webber.

Schumacher had come into the pits but was given the all-clear to go too early by his Ferrari lollipop man - and drove into Webber's Jaguar as he headed back onto the circuit.

The Australian lost the front wing of his car in the shunt but still managed to get back on to the track before the end of the session and set the fastest time in free practice.

Ferrari's team manager was called before the stewards, who imposed the fine after ruling that Schumacher had been released from a pit-stop position before it was safe.

McLaren's David Coulthard, was hampered by his early start and finished 14th, one place ahead of Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya.

Championship contender Kimi Raikkonen was 17th in his McLaren with Williams' Ralf Schumacher 18th.