Schumacher leads Monza free practice

Michael Schumacher reassured Ferrari fans on Saturday with the fastest time in free practice for Sunday's Italian Formula One Grand Prix.

The German, his fourth world title already won, lapped the park circuit in one minute 23.178 seconds, 0.299 ahead of the Williams driven by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya.

Schumacher had not set a competitive lap in the opening practice session, preferring to wait for the damp track to dry in the morning sunlight.

Montoya, whose team mate Ralf Schumacher was quickest on Friday, set the fastest time in the morning session and Ferrari have said they see the BMW-powered team as their major threat at Monza.

Both sessions were uneventful after Friday, when the Saubers crash heavily.

Italian Jarno Trulli was third fastest in a Jordan, ahead of Ferrari's Brazilian Rubens Barrichello who is chasing second place overall.

Minardi, with Alex Yoong set to make his debut as Malaysia's first Formula One driver, had a troubled morning with neither of their drivers setting a competitive time.

Tomas Enge, who will become the Czech Republic's first Grand Prix driver, was 20th on the time sheets in the Prost he is racing in the absence of injured Brazilian Luciano Burti.

Official qualifying followed in the afternoon.

Ferrari, who have also won the constructors' title, are competing without sponsors' names on their cars and a black nose as a mark of mourning for the thousands feared killed in the terror attacks in New York and Washington.