Montoya 4th after final practice for US GP

The first Saturday practice session would see Michael Schumacher, stop in the middle of the eighth turn on his installation lap. It was determined that his F-2003-GA suffered a fuel pickup problem. As the second session began Michael's mechanics were still working on his car.

After not running in the first session Kimi Raikkonen would take to the track. Jordan's Ralph Firman would complete his first official time of the day, 1m:14.457. Jaguar's Mark Webber would be the second driver to break into the 1:12 bracket, with a time of 1m:12.447. There would be a rush of cars all coming out to set times.

Kimi Raikkonen would quickly move into first position, with a time of 1m:11.941. Raikkonen's team-mate David Coulthard would complete his first lap of the day ending in fourteenth. Michael Schumacher was yet to head out onto the track. While Michael was waiting his team-mate Rubens Barrichello would go fastest with a time of 1m:11.889. Both Ferrari's seemed to be focusing on getting the most downforce running two wing elements on their rear wings. Ralf Schumacher would set his best first sector time of the session, 22.5 seconds, but would not improve from his third position.

With fifteen minutes of the session run Fisichella would head out onto the circuit but he would spin in the eighth corner. Thankfully he was able to keep his engine running and was able to return to the track. It was becoming apparent that for most teams getting enough temperature in the tyres was a difficult thing. To combat this the WilliamsF1 brought 18 tyre warmers that are in constant use.

Renault's Jarno Trulli would continue his good showing by setting the quickest first sector time of the session, 22.1 seconds. Trulli would move into first with a time of 1m:11.483. Team-mate Alonso would spin at turn nine, but was able to keep his engine running. The Spaniard is currently ninth fastest.

With twenty five minutes remaining the Ferrari mechanics were installing Michael Schumacher's front wing. Toyota's Oliver Panis would set a quick time, second position for the Frenchman, with a time of 1m:11.758. With the quickest third sector time of the session Montoya would move into first position from Trulli, 1m:11.377.

As the session moved towards a close Michael Schumacher would finally make his way out onto the circuit and was setting his first timed lap of the day. In somewhat of a surprise David Coulthard would take the top spot in the session with a time of 1m:11.355. Michael would go fastest, with a time of 1m:11.340, on his first timed lap of the day. Ralph Firman was down in nineteenth behind Minardi's Jos Verstappen.

With fifteen minutes left Ralf would lock up his brakes and head into the tyre barrier just before the turn eight. Ralf appeared to be unphased by his accident and should be able qualifying later on today. Fernando Alonso would work his way up the time sheets as he completed a lap with the time of 1m:12.359, still five positions behind his team mate Jarno Trulli. Trulli would move back into first with a time of 1m:11.124.

Michael Schumacher would return to the track with about eight minutes left in the session. Toyota's Oliver Panis was in sixth position. Michael would complete his tenth lap and misses Trulli's time by only 0.015 seconds. Raikkonen would improve his time to a 1m:11.493, the Finn was now in sixth position. Alonso would improve to ninth position.

In the final minutes Rubens Barrichello would set the fastest time with a lap of 1m:11.112. Montoya would improve to be fourth, a time of 1m:11.232. So with the session completed the top drivers were Barrichello ahead of Trulli, Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo, Coulthard and in sixth Raikkonen.