Schumi and Button set the pace
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-08 10:22

Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button continued their budding rivalry as they split the best times yesterday in the two practice sessions for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Michael Schumacher of Germany steers his Ferrari out of a curve during the second free practice session at the Montmelo circuit on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain Friday May 7, 2004. The Spanish Grand Prix takes place Sunday. [AP]

Schumacher started his bid for a fifth consecutive win much the way he did in his first four victories of the season – by posting the fastest time in the first practice session in his Ferrari.

In the afternoon session, Button showed he can still challenge, finishing ahead of the German.

Schumacher's Ferrari clocked 1:15.658 in the opening practice on the 4.627km Circuit de Catalunya with teammate Rubens Barrichello at 1:16.033.

They were far ahead of BAR-Honda's test driver Anthony Davidson, 1:16.616. Ricardo Zonta of Toyota, another third driver allowed in yesterday's practice, clocked 1:16.639.

Button, who tested on the Barcelona track in early April in a mini head-to-head contest against the Ferrari team and finished ahead in three of the four runs, did 1:17.060. At the San Marino Grand Prix he was ahead of Schumacher to gain the pole position but came in second in the race. He also had two thirds in the two races before that, all behind Schumacher.

In the afternoon he got down to 1:15.935 which was good enough for the lead. However, it is only relative as teams experiment with different settings.

Button finished ahead of the BAR tester, Davidson, 1:16.188. Zonta was third with 1:16.360, followed by Ralf Schumacher in a Williams-BMW at 1:16.433.

Fernando Alonso in a Renault, second behind Michael Schumacher last year here, was just ahead of him in the afternoon. Alonso clocked 1:16.534 and Michael Schumacher did 1:16.729 with Barrichello just getting in between at 1:16.698.

Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren-Mercedes stopped on the track with about 10 minutes left. It's been a season of woes for Raikkonen, who finished runner-up in last season's standings by two points to Schumacher.

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