Hakkinen leads today's warm up

Hakkinen leads today's warm up

Imola, April 8: Mika Hakkinen, seeking his third consecutive pole of the season, posted the fastest time in the morning warm ups for qualifying for Sunday's San Marino Formula One Grand Prix.

His major rival, Michael Schumacher was second, 1:25.085, a time he posted in the first 45-minute session. The German in a Ferrari hasn't lost so far this season, winning in both Australia and Brazil for a maximum 20 points.

Third in the warm up was Hakkinen's McLaren-Mercedes team-mate David Coulthard on 1:25.090. Jarno Trulli in a Jordan-Mugen-Honda was fourth quickest in 1:25.852 ahead of team-mate Heinz-Harald Frentzen, 1:26.097. Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, in a Ferrari, was next at 1:26.357.

The McLarens are still searching for their first points of the season after being shut out in the first two legs. Both dropped out with mechanical problems in Australia.

Hakkinen also failed to finish again in Brazil. Though Coulthard made it to the finish line behind Schumacher, the Scot was disqualified when the stewards ruled the front wing of his car was two millimeters (.08 inch) out of line. The McLaren team contested the decision but the International Court of Appeal of the International Automobile Federation rejected their appeal in Paris this week.