David Coulthard gave a glimmer of hope to his world championship aspirations by edging out Michael Schumacher in the final practice before this afternoon's qualifying for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
The British driver needs a good performance here to keep alive his bid to overtake Schumacher this season although the German is already 37 points ahead.
A victory by Schumacher in Sunday's race would clinch a fourth world title - and second straight for Ferrari - as well as give him a record-equalling 51st victory.
Schumacher has a comfortable lead over his nearest rivals - Coulthard of McLaren and his brother Ralf in a Williams.
Coulthard's best time of 1min 15.263sec was slightly better than Schumacher's 1:15.466 around the 3.975-kilometer Hungaroring circuit.
Coulthard ripped up the bottom of his McLaren when he went over some curbs Friday and missed the afternoon session as his car was repaired.
Third was Schumacher's Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello at 1:15.650 with Germany's Nick Heidfeld of Sauber-Petronas fourth in 1:15.821.
Coulthard's McLaren colleague, former two-time champion Mika Hakkinen of Finland, took fifth in in 1:15.839.
Jarno Trulli in a Jordan-Honda was sixth in 1:16.021.
Last year Schumacher had the pole position in 1:17.514 but came in second in the race to Hakkinen, who also won in 1999. Schumacher has won twice here in the past - in 1994 and again in 1998.
France's Jean Alesi, after leaving the under-performing Prost team, was just 16th in 1:17.234 after being sixth on Friday with his new Jordan-Honda.
German Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who moved into Alesi's spot at Prost after being fired by Jordan, did 1:17.203 to slot in just ahead of Alesi.
However the attention is focused on Schumacher and the Ferrari team which could be triply rewarded this weekend - Schumacher's title clinching, the 51st victory and another constructor's title for Ferrari.
An outright victory would guarantee Schumacher the title as he has a 37-point margin over Coulthard and a 43-point advantage over his brother.
Also if Schumacher finishes second, third or fourth, Coulthard must stay close enough to stay mathematically in contention with Ralf's chances even slimmer.
Last year's 77-lap Hungarian race started Michael's resurgence. After a series of dropouts, he came in second to begin a streak that culminated with him winning the last four races of the season and eventually the title.
AFP