Friday September 24th, 1999
Hakkinen sets the pace at the Nurburgring
Mika Hakkinen started off the way he intend to continue during the first free practice session for the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, over half a second quicker than his nearest rival . David Coulthard set the third fastest time in the second McLaren-Mercedes , neither driver experiencing any problems during the session which they started half an hour late waiting for the track to be cleaned up by the other cars. They spent most of the session making tyre comparisons.
Marlboro-Ferraris nearer the pace
The two Scuderia-Ferrari drivers were nearer the pace around the Nurburgring's high-downforce circuit than they have been at the previous low-downforce tracks of Monza and Spa. Mika Salo set the fifth fastest time, a couple of tenth's ahead of his team-mate Eddie Irvine in sixth. Both drivers were working on eliminating understeer and improving grip, their cars featuring new side deflectors for this race.
Barrichello well up for Stewart-Ford
Despite losing time and a set of tyres when he ran over some debris which punctured his rear-right tyre, Rubens Barrichello took an impressive second fastest time of the session for Stewart-Ford after eliminating an initial understeer problem with more front wing angle on his car. Johnny Herbert complained of a spongy brake pedal on his car, while he was also working to improve the balance. He was only ninth fastest.
Schumacher going well for Williams
Ralf Schumacher worked on different chassis set-ups and tyre combinations during the session to set the fourth fastest time for Williams. Alex Zanardi was back in 12th place, not as happy with his car's set-up , while he also had a spin during the session.
Bad start for Jordan
Monza winner Heinz-Harald Frentzen didn't get a flying lap in his Jordan which was sidelined by a gearbox problem on his first lap. Damon Hill managed 14 laps, but ended his session parked in a tyre barrier after he spun off and knocked off a front and rear wing of his Jordan.
In brief...
Despite complaining of his car being nervous under braking, Jean Alesi took the seventh fastest time of the session, his teammate back in 13th spot working on during understeer in the middle of the corners and oversteer coming out.
Both the BAR drivers were working on setting up their cars for this track, neither driver having run the BAR at the 'Ring before, although it didn't stop double 'Ring winner Villeneuve taking eighth fastest, Zonta 17th complaining of too much understeer. Fisichella had a harmless spin on his way to 10th best time, Wurz just behind him in 11th place.
Both Prost cars were running the Evolution 4 engines here with the revised exhaust exits on top of the side-pods. Badoer damaged the undertray of his Minardi when he went through a gravel trap. De La Rosa only ran two laps with his Arrows because of an hydraulic leak.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 1:20.965 202.576 kmph
2. Barrichello Stewart Ford 1:21.505 + 0.540
3. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:21.636 + 0.671
4. R.Schumacher Williams Supertec 1:21.815 + 0.850
5. Salo Ferrari 1:22.099 + 1.134
6. Irvine Ferrari 1:22.337 + 1.372
7. Alesi Sauber Petronas 1:22.432 + 1.467
8. Villeneuve BAR Supertec 1:22.529 + 1.564
9. Herbert Stewart Ford 1:22.629 + 1.664
10. Fisichella Benetton Supertec 1:22.629 + 1.664
11. Wurz Benetton Supertec 1:22.747 + 1.782
12. Zanardi Williams Supertec 1:22.846 + 1.881
13. Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:22.966 + 2.001
14. Trulli Prost Peugeot 1:23.053 + 2.088
15. Panis Prost Peugeot 1:23.429 + 2.464
16. Hill Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:23.443 + 2.478
17. Zonta BAR Supertec 1:23.604 + 2.639
18. Gene Minardi Ford 1:23.935 + 2.970
19. Badoer Minardi Ford 1:24.466 + 3.501
20. Takagi Arrows TWR 1:24.766 + 3.801
21. de la Rosa Arrows TWR 2:53.695 + 1:32.730
22. Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 13:37.977 + 12:17.012
All Timing Unofficial