Schumacher

LONDON -- Ferrari's Michael Schumacher has played down Formula One's tire controversy after setting the pace in testing for next week's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

The FIA, the sport's governing body, last week warned teams that tires would be measured after the race as well as before to ensure they conformed to the regulations.

"I don't think it will make that much difference," the Autosport website quoted Schumacher as saying.

"The end result will not be that upside down from how it is now. It is a very confusing situation and lots of unqualified and qualified people are saying lots of things about how wide or narrow the tires are."

The five time world champion leads the title race by one point over Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya with three races remaining. Montoya was second fastest on Thursday.

Michelin, whose teams dominated the last Hungarian Grand Prix, a race at which Schumacher was lapped, are at loggerheads with Ferrari and their Bridgestone suppliers over an interpretation of the rules.

Michelin insist their tires are legal, despite suggestions that they might have more than the permitted amount of tread in contact with the track during races.

Williams chief operations engineer Sam Michael emphasized that point on Thursday but said also that the team, which leads Ferrari in the constructors' championship by eight points, is confident for next week's race.

"It is important to clarify that Michelin tires have never been illegal," he said.

"At the Monza test, we have made good progress on casings and compounds as part of our normal long term development program.

"As a result of the progress we have made together with Michelin this week, we will be bringing good improvements to the tires for the Italian Grand Prix."

Renault, who won in Hungary with Spaniard Fernando Alonso, said Michelin could even have come up with better tires after the controversy.

"We completed a very positive day's testing," said technical director Mike Gascoyne.

"Thanks to...Michelin, who have reacted incredibly quickly and effectively over the last few days, our tire testing also went very well, and using the new shape tire, we actually noted a small performance advantage over its predecessor."

Williams and Ferrari will continue testing on Friday.