OrangeArrows in the top 10 in 1st free practice

Enrique 6th
By Huw Alban
April 29 2002

OrangeArrows ended the first free practice session with both cars inside the top 10. As the first practice sessions are traditionally used to fine tune race setup, todays early result looks good for the race on Sunday. Enrique Bernoldi finished 6th and Heinz-Harald Frentzen 10th fastest.

The track temperature at Interlagos was a sweltering 37 degrees as the green light came on, signalling the start of the first free practice session. As is the norm, the majority of the grid streamed out onto the immediately to get the installation lap on their cars sorted.

Jordan's Takuma Sato is the first driver to put in a timed lap, a 1.22.039 being his first attempt. He is followed by both the Minardi's, and the Toyota of Allan McNish. Jaguar's Pedro de la Rosa slips into second slot behind Sato, and shortly after Heinz-Harald Frentzen gets his first lap in, but his second lap is the impressive one stealing the top slot from Sato. Enrique Bernoldi is also out and circulating, and slots into second behind his German team mate.

Bernoldi's second slot is quickly bettered by Eddie Irvine, and then again by the Sauber of Felipe Massa. Irvine's next lap reclaims second slot from Massa, and that seems to be the signal for the majority of the grid to pour out and start timed laps.

The session was interrupted firstly by a minor spin from Kimi Raikonen, causing waved yellow flags just after the first corner. McLaren team mate David Coulthard also has a moment but is able to recover. The marshals then decide to red flag the session because they are having trouble moving Raikonnen's car from the side of the circuit. The session is halted for 5 minutes.

Once restarted, with 20 minutes to go, Enrique Bernoldi immediately gets about a quick lap and spilts the two Williams drivers of Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya. Yellow flags come out again, but this time for a spinning Rubens Barrichello. Michael Schumacher also has a moment but manages to keep going. Alex Yoong is next to spin - the track is certainly very slippery at this early stage.

Enrique Bernoldi also suffers a minor spin on one of his later laps, but is able to continue. Ferrari have asked the steward to have the track swept, as the cause of Barrichello's spin was a tyre puncture.

Enrique is in 5th spot in the final minutes of the session, with the track temperature rising to 40 degrees. Enrique loses 5th spot due to an improvement from Felipe Massa, the Sauber driver slotting into 4th just ahead of his team mate. Heinz-Harald Frentzen only manages to improve to 10th. The session ends under waved yellow flags, after yet another spin from the Jordan of Takuma Sato.