Schumacher

	Barrichello

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Schumacher recorded the fastest lap ever in a Formula One car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as Ferrari warmed up for U.S. Grand Prix qualifying with another display of dominance.

The five-time world champion, earning his record-equalling fifth title more than two months ago, lapped the Indianapolis Formula One circuit in one minute 11.158 seconds.

The time was the fastest lap yet at the track for a F1 car and well inside the German's 2001 pole position time of 1:11.708.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello kept Ferrari in a world of their own with the second quickest time, a day after he slammed at full speed into a concrete wall.

Barrichello, shaken but unscathed in the crash that prevented him from clocking a fast lap in Friday's opening session, lapped 0.236 slower than Schumacher on a damp and cloudy morning at The Brickyard.

Briton Eddie Irvine, a surprise second on Friday in the resurgent Jaguar, kept the Ford-owned team high in the timesheets with the third fastest lap.

Irvine, the oldest driver on the grid and with his future still uncertain as his Jaguar contract expires after the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix, also lapped inside last year's pole with a time of 1:11.688.

Michael's younger brother Ralf was fourth fastest on a track that had been expected to favor his Williams team, ahead of McLaren's David Coulthard.

The Ferrari drivers are favorites for a fourth successive one-two on Sunday and their 14th win in 16 outings this year.

Schumacher is likely to go even faster in qualifying later as he seeks his sixth pole of the season.

Ferrari can move closer to equalling McLaren's 1988 record of 15 wins in a championship if they win on Sunday.

Japan's Takuma Sato failed to clock a lap in the first session after the Honda engine in his Jordan caught fire. He later used the spare for 16th fastest.

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen made more work for his McLaren mechanics when his car skidded nose first into the crash barriers during the second session.