Practice times

[Tristan]

First Practice

1 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m21.577s
2 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes 1m22.404s
3 TRULLI Jordan Honda 1m22.667s
4 FRENTZEN Jordan Honda 1m23.024s
5 BARRICHELLO Ferrari 1m23.337s
6 HAKKINEN McLaren Mercedes 1m23.347s
7 PANIS BAR Honda 1m23.662s
8 R.SCHUMACHER Williams BMW 1m23.678s
9 IRVINE Jaguar 1m23.930s
10 ALESI Prost Acer 1m24.019s
11 RAIKKONEN Sauber Petronas 1m24.441s
12 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas 1m24.762s
13 FISICHELLA Benetton Renault 1m24.871s
14 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda 1m24.918s
15 VERSTAPPEN Arrows Asiatech 1m24.931s
16 MONTOYA Williams BMW 1m25.838s
17 BERNOLDI Arrows Asiatech 1m25.952s
18 BUTTON Benetton Renault 1m26.702s
19 ALONSO Minardi European 1m26.759s
20 BURTI Prost Acer 1m26.905s
21 DE LA ROSA Jaguar 1m27.316s
22 MARQUES Minardi European 1m30.230s

Of note, Ficshichella and Alesi.
Oh and JPM. Oh dear!

Second Practice

1 HAKKINEN McLaren Mercedes 1m19.853s
2 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m20.316s
3 R.SCHUMACHER Williams BMW 1m20.938s
4 BARRICHELLO Ferrari 1m20.959s
5 TRULLI Jordan Honda 1m21.048s
6 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes 1m21.091s
7 FRENTZEN Jordan Honda 1m21.505s
8 ALESI Prost Acer 1m21.935s
9 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda 1m22.010s
10 MONTOYA Williams BMW 1m22.035s
11 FISICHELLA Benetton Renault 1m22.214s
12 IRVINE Jaguar 1m22.302s
13 RAIKKONEN Sauber Petronas 1m22.800s
14 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas 1m22.807s
15 VERSTAPPEN Arrows Asiatech 1m23.409s
16 PANIS BAR Honda 1m23.662s
17 BUTTON Benetton Renault 1m24.026s
18 BERNOLDI Arrows Asiatech 1m24.105s
19 BURTI Prost Acer 1m24.857s
20 MARQUES Minardi European 1m25.920s
21 ALONSO Minardi European 1m26.393s
22 DE LA ROSA Jaguar 1m27.316s

PDLR is having a torrid time isn't he?? Again Alesi and Fischo proving this is a drivers circuit. Well, I guess it's JPM's first time here. Hang on, it's Raikkonnen's first time too and he's not far behind! And I TOLD you TM wasn't that bad!

[EERO]

Tristan, a fair assessment at what is probably the last driver's circuit left. Fisi and Alesi put in surprisingly good times. It only proves what a waste Alesi's career has been. Put him in a front line car, which I will contend he has NEVER had, and he would be God.


Too bad about Pedro, in whom I have great faith.

[JeremySmith]

You have made a VERY good point EERO..IMHO I have always thought Jean Alesi to be a truly great driver,I remember his tusle with Senna on the street course at Pheonix I believe..

[Peter Mallett]

Well,

JPM had an "off" yesterday which possibly spoiled his day. However he does know the circuit (F3000) so if he's really as good as people think, He'll fly during qualifying. Or not as the case may be.

Alesi had chances with Ferrari and even Benneton. However I don't really think he made the best use of them. still I hope he shows well in the race. Fisi's postion is probably a realistic reflection of a down on power engine in a low power circuit.

[Orange]

Overheard after practice at Monaco...

JPM "Toto, I don't think we are in the Indianapolis oval speedway anymore!"

Panis "God, please let it rain!!!"

PDLR "Man, maybe I should have stayed at Prost!"

Marques "Er, know of any good CART teams looking for a driver??"

Villneuve "God, please let it not rain!!"

Prost "Now, if only I had a real car!!"

[David McManus]

Just a small point, but if those times appear tomorrow, only 19 will start the race.

[bella]

well, fernando has an excuse. he, erm, had a close encounter of the armco kind, as did tarso. so he lost nearly all of the second session, and tarso lost most of the first.

er, tristan, kimi's 3 seconds behind. that's a pretty long time in the scheme of things...

[R]

Alesi's career has been a matter of being in the right teams at the wrong time. He would have won Monaco in 96 bar technical problems (the year Panis won, Alesi led comfortably). He has led many races when the car has broke down.

Peter's right, Montoya has F3000 experience at Monaco, in 98 he finished 6th I believe. It most definitely is a drivers' track, and I for one will be disappointed if he doesn't do well here. That being said, if you make a mistake, you will most likely crash, and he could overcook it. If he does that in qualifying, he may not get a good starting position for the race, which is vital here. In Montoya's case, I think it'll be a question of either/or, he's not someone who will have an undramatic 4th place finish.

[Ed G]

Today was a case of the more laps the faster. Except for Prost and Arrows (both with rookie drivers) in each team the driver who did the most laps had the fastest lap.

On that note JPM only put in 31 laps - RS did 45 - I don't know when RS put in his fast lap but most of the fast laps came just before and after JPM 'modified' his car. ( I think it was just before JPM crashed)

[Total-F1]

But he didn't ever do any good - as didn't Johnny Herbert - spilled and milk spring to mind...