Raikkonen

	Coulthard

MAGNY-COURS, France -- Arrows have missed free practice for the French Grand Prix as the financially troubled team's Formula One future remained hanging in the balance.

"They can't run until everything's sorted out," an Arrows spokeswoman said.

The continuing negotiations between team boss Tom Walkinshaw and investors left the team's drivers as spectators on a sweltering day dominated by McLaren's David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen.

Coulthard, who took one of the finest wins of his career at Magny-Cours two years ago, lapped the circuit in one minute 14.025 seconds. Raikkonen was 0.072 behind.

The Ferrari drivers followed, with world champion Michael Schumacher third quickest and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello fourth.

Schumacher has won five times at Magny-Cours and can wrap up a record-equalling fifth title Sunday if he wins and either Barrichello or Williams' Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya finishes no higher than third.

The German is also chasing his eighth win in 11 races.

The Ferraris were the only cars on Bridgestone tires in the top 10 at what amounts to Michelin's home circuit.

The inactivity in the Arrows garage was as much the story as what happened on the track.

Walkinshaw, who has paid engine suppliers Cosworth for the weekend, has been blocked by shareholders Morgan Grenfell from selling Arrows' assets to Red Bull tycoon Dieter Mateschitz.

The team almost missed the last British Grand Prix, sitting out Friday's free practice at Silverstone when Cosworth demanded payment before releasing the electronic units controlling the engines.

It took an 11th hour agreement, with Walkinshaw paying millions of dollars out of his own pocket, to ensure their continued Formula One survival.

Arrows passed inspection Thursday and have everything in place to race, with the engines no longer the main issue.

But it is desperately short of funds after a High Court ruling preventing new investment without Morgan Grenfell's consent.

Failure to race in France would have serious consequences, with the team's place in the series in jeopardy. One team, Prost, has already gone out of business this year.

Neither of the Arrows drivers changed into their overalls, knowing that there was no point.

"For me it is a very bad feeling to be here sitting around waiting. I want to race," said Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi, watching the session in a T-shirt and jeans.

"There is a problem with some shareholders ... so for now we don't know if we are racing or not."

There were few incidents in the first session, other than Canadian Jacques Villeneuve spinning off into the gravel trap in his British American Racing after the chequered flag.

Schumacher spun in the second session while Mika Salo pulled over and parked his smoking Toyota.