Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella clocked the third fastest time as practice got under way for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal today.
The Italian, fresh from his finish in the points at Monaco a fortnight ago, was slightly off the early pace set by Rubens Barrichello and Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher.
Barrichello went top late in the first of today's two sessions to finish 0.061 secs ahead of championship pacesetter Schumacher, who has won the race a record four times.
The German did give the wall at the final corner of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve a glancing blow near the end of opening practice and had to slowly bring his car back round to the pits allowing Barrichello to get ahead of him on the time-sheets.
Fisichella’s time was just under a second off that set by the Brazilian with David Coulthard, winner in Monaco, fourth quickest but, as expected, more than a second off the pace in his McLaren.
Team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was fifth quickest with Germany's Heinz-Harald Frentzen sixth in the Orange Arrows.
The expected challenge from the Williams duo of Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya on a track that should suit their BMW-powered car failed to materialise early on.
Montoya was ninth fastest while Schumacher, who comprehensively beat his brother in last year's race, was well back in 16th spot.
Eddie Irvine was 12th for Jaguar Racing, while Takuma Sato, in the other Jordan, finished an uninspiring 21st.
1Barrichello Ferrari 1m16.930s
2M.Schumacher Ferrari 1m16.991s
3
FisichellaJordan Honda 1m17.840s
4Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1m18.156s
5Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes 1m18.203s
6Frentzen Arrows Cosworth 1m18.340s
7Panis BAR Honda 1m18.349s
8Massa Sauber Petronas 1m18.426s
9Montoya Williams BMW 1m18.437s
10De La Rosa Jaguar 1m18.461s
11Trulli Renault 1m18.465s
12 IrvineJaguar 1m18.581s
13Heidfeld Sauber Petronas 1m18.799s
14Button Renault 1m18.867s
15Salo Toyota 1m19.110s
16R.Schumacher Williams BMW 1m19.193s
17Bernoldi Arrows Cosworth 1m19.243s
18Villeneuve BAR Honda 1m19.437s
19Webber Minardi Asiatech 1m19.716s
20McNish Toyota 1m19.903s
21
Sato JordanHonda 1m20.507s
22Yoong Minardi Asiatech 1m21.678s