Check out a short list of favorites for Sunday's French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours.

	Barrichello

Rubens Barrichello
Finished on the podium in three straight grand prixs and four of five to make a jump from fifth to second in the championship standings; 32 points gives him second place behind Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher (86), but one in front of Juan Montoya and two more than Ralf Schumacher; won the European Grand Prix in Germany; placed third on the podium in 2001 at the French Grand Prix and also was third in 1999 after starting from pole.

Jenson Button
Did not score any points in his first time out last year at the technically demanding Magny-Course; but is ready for the challenge at the home grand prix of his team Renault; "It is obviously important for everyone in the team to do well in France," he said. "It would be nice to pull out something special for Renault at their home race, but we will wait and see when we get to the circuit." Earned 10 points in four of the 10 races this season.

David Coulthard
After claiming points finishes in six straight races, he has not picked up any in the past two starts in Germany and England; remained fifth in the standings with 26 points; his 12th career victory caem at the Monaco Grand Prix this year; the fourth place result in France last year, followed his 2000 win at the track; other points-paying finishes were a pair of sixth in 1996-97.

Juan Pablo Montoya
Ended a run of three races without finishing two weeks ago in England by finishing third for his fifth podium of the year; won the pole for the past four grand prixs, but that did not seem to be a huge advantage during the course of races; otherwise, running a solid campaign having scored 31 points, good for third place in the championship; did not finish last year's first visit to France in Formula One.

Michael Schumacher
A finish six points clear of Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello will clinch his fifth world title in record time with six grand prixs remaining this season; that is good news for Schumacher considering he won in France three of the last five years and has five wins total at Magny-Course; Juan Manuel Fangio and Nigel Mansell have won four each in France; having all but a perfect season with podium finishes in all 10 races, including seven victories; 86 points accumulated puts him 54 clear of Barrichello; has not qualified in a race lower than third.

Ralf Schumacher
Scored points in six of 10 grand prixs this year, with a victory in Malaysia; Williams BMW ran some good races this year, but also went through some reliability glitches; finished 10 seconds behind brother Michael in last year's French Grand Prix; total of 30 points positions him fourth in the championship, one behind teammate Juan Montoya and two back of Rubens Barrichello.

Jarno Trulli
It is important for the Italian driver to do well driving for Renault in what is the team's home grand prix; positive is the fact he finished fifth at Magny-Course last year and looks for a competitive performance in what could represent the high point of the season: "I am very excited to be racing for Renault in the French Grand Prix," he said. "It feels a bit like a home race for me also because I have raced there a lot. You need a car with a good front end and rear stability under breaking, plus a lot of traction out of the slow corners. All those demands will suit our car."