FRIDAY PRACTICE 1. Rubens Barrichello 1:31.450 2. Juan Pablo Montoya + 0.001secs 3. Anthony Davidson + 0.038 4. Michael Schumacher + 0.282 5. Christian Klien + 0.339 6. Ralf Schumacher + 0.39 Practice times in full

But BAR's reserve driver Anthony Davidson pulled off a surprise third.

He outpaced world champion Michael Schumacher, who had dominated the morning session.

David Coulthard managed 27 laps before his car's left rear tyre disintegrated and his McLaren team-mate Kimi Raikkonen suffered an engine failure.

Barrichello's time of one minute 31.450 seconds put him just one thousandth of a second ahead of Montoya.

As the temperature increased both on and off track, some of the top teams struggled.

McLaren's difficult start to the season continued early when Raikkonen ground to a halt and a small fire started at the back of his car.

The Finn, who retired from the races in Australia and Malaysia because of engine and transmission problems failed to even complete a lap in the afternoon practice.

He managed just 10 laps in the morning session.

And with five minutes to go, Coulthard's tyre problem sent him spinning into the gravel at turn six.

Renault also hit trouble when Italian Jarno Trulli completed just 18 laps before being forced to stop with fire coming out of the back of his car.

And his team-mate Fernando Alonso was forced to cruise into the pits after his right rear tyre disintegrated.