Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher finished ahead of the pack in practice for this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix. Ferrari is preparing to keep the pair in front through 2005 despite rule changes by the sport's governing body.
Barrichello, who grew up near the Interlagos circuit, took advantage of a warm afternoon track in his native city to record the fastest time Friday as the Ferrari pair set the pace for the final race of the season.
PHOTO: EPA
Barrichello completed his lap on the 4.309km circuit in 1 minute, 11.166 seconds.
Seven-time world champion Schumacher was next in 1:11.334. Last year Barrichello won the pole position in 1:13.807.
Kimi Raikkonen of McLaren-Mercedes, one of two non-Ferrari drivers to win this season, was third in 1:11.526 while Jenson Button of BAR-Honda was next in 1:11.731. Button is still searching for his first win despite 10 second or third place finishes this season.
Barrichello said he is now focusing on the task ahead -- trying to win the Brazilian Grand Prix for the first time. In 11 attempts, his best effort was fourth a decade ago.
"Now we have to keep our cool and try and improve the car even more," Barrichello said.
As if Ferrari needs the improvement. Ferrari has won 15 of 17 races this season, with Schumacher winning 13.
There are two more practice sessions Saturday morning with pre-qualifying and qualifying set for the afternoon. Another pole position by Schumacher would put him within one of Ayrton Senna's career record of 65, the only major Formula One record Schumacher does not hold.
Schumacher will probably get the record in 2005, barring injury or accident. However the sport's governing body announced plans to level the playing field by imposing sweeping technical changes involving aerodynamics, tires and engines.
The aim is to give F1's small-time players more of a chance against free spenders such as Ferrari, whose dominance threatens to drive away television viewers.
Perhaps the most radical move will prohibit teams from changing tires -- unless they have been punctured -- during pit stops.
Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn said he wasn't upset by the changes. He said Ferrari is developing a 2005 model that he hopes will keep Ferrari ahead.
"It is not strictly a 2005 car, it's a car which we have modified to achieve the performance levels which we think we will have in 2005," Brawn said.
Sebastien Bourdais' chances of clinching the Champ Car season points title could rest with Canadian Paul Tracy -- not quite what the Frenchman wanted.
Bourdais has a 28-point lead over Newman-Haas teammate Bruno Junqueira of Brazil going into Sunday's Lexmark Indy 300, the second-last race of the year. Bourdais needs to finish with seven points more than Junqueira to clinch the title before the teams head to Mexico City to end the season Nov. 7.
Standing foremost in the way of Bourdais claiming the title here is Tracy, who clinched the 2003 series title in this race last year. And who Bourdais criticized earlier this week for his erratic driving style.
On Sunday, they'll start side-by-side in the front row. Seconds after the start, they'll both hit the first turn on the temporary Surfers Paradise street course, a notorious chicane that has been the scene of numerous accidents at the start in the 13-year history of the race.
Bourdais and Tracy tussled there last year, but both drivers stayed in the race. This year, if Bourdais goes out and Junqueira, starting in the second row, should win, the Brazilian driver could overtake Bourdais for the series lead.
"We have three of the most aggressive drivers of the circuit starting out in front and we will all be charging very hard heading into the first corner," Tracy said at a press conference. Bourdais and Junqueira, sitting next to him, did not shake their heads in agreement.
Tracy hit a tire barrier on a chicane and slightly damaged his nosecone with four minutes left in the opening 15-minute practice, forcing an early end to the session.
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