Wet weather for quiet Imola first practice

The start of the first free practice session at the San Marino Grand Prix saw the track temperature at a low 7C in wet and cold conditions. Jordan's Takuma Sato was the first to take to the Imola circuit where a lot of standing water made for a cautious few installation laps as others went out. After a very quiet fifteen minutes Sato was the first man to set a time, a 1:47.595.

After a slow start the lap times started falling about half way through the session. Sato was the first spin of the day followed by Minardi's Mark Webber going off at Rivazza then Jacques Villeneuve also spun, the wet conditions adding a little interest to a quiet practice. As usual the Ferraris stayed resolutely in the garage long after everyone else had been out: Michael Schumacher finally taking to the track after 30 minutes and immediately taking the top of the times, swiftly followed by Rubens Barrichello in his first trip out in the F2002.

Jaguar were showing well after their disastrous start to the season, both Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa in the top ten, as were the Saubers of Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa. Jordan also looked good, Sato and Giancarlo Fisichella staying mostly in the front runners. Renault appeared slightly slow, Jenson Button and Jarno Trulli outside the top ten along with both McLarens and Williams not looking their best -- Michelin appeared to be suffering in the wet.

In the last ten minutes Arrows' Heinz-Harald Frentzen jumped into the top six, as did Trulli and Raikkonen while Coulthard managed seventh. The Minardis and Toyotas languished at the bottom of the times, BAR slightly ahead while Ralf Schumacher and Raikkonen also made the top ten; Michael kept at the top with a 1:37.486. A very slow session which was hampered by the weather. Top six final classification: M.Schumacher, Fisichella, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Frentzen, Trulli.