Giancarlo Fisichella starred in today's rain-affected practice in Imola, setting the 3rd fastest time in his Jordan Honda EJ12 which was sporting its new Virgin Mobile livery on either side of the cockpit.  The DHL Jordan Honda driver was behind the Ferrari pairing of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello while David Coulthard was fourth with McLaren team mate Kimi Raikkonen and Heinz-Harald Frentzen completing the top six.

Fisichella was quick throughout both the one hour sessions, the rain soaked Imola track clearly suiting his EJ12 on its Bridgestone wets.

"I am very pleased with how the free practice went," said Giancarlo.  "Clearly the wet and cold conditions here in Imola suit our package well so we are more competitive.  The conditions on the track were very difficult but I don't mind driving in the wet at all and would be happy if it stayed wet for qualifying.  If it does I believe we could qualify in the top six."

Team mate Takuma Sato had a slightly fraught practice, spinning off a couple of times and running through a gravel trap, but the car was undamaged and he was suffering no more than several other more experienced drivers - notably Ralf Schumacher who had several offs in his Williams.  Taku ended up setting the 11th fastest time, a creditable performance given that this is his first ever visit to the Imola circuit.

"I felt very comfortable with the car," said Taku," and in the full wet conditions first thing this morning but as the track dried out and I found things a lot more difficult as it was hard to get traction and braking stability."