Mika Hakkinen shunted Michael Schumacher off the top of the time-sheets during practice for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo today.
The Finn finished almost 0.5 seconds ahead of his Ferrari foe, who is bidding for a fifth victory in Formula One's most famous race this weekend.
Team-mate David Coulthard, who is just four points behind Schumacher, suffered a setback in his attempt at winning what is now his home race for a second successive year.
The Scot, who ended 27 years of British failure in Monaco last season, finished back in sixth spot -1.2 seconds adrift - although he might have been higher if a late run had not been ruined by Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
Ralf Schumacher claimed the third-fastest time despite a crash moments before the session's end when he had a lengthy slide along the guard-rail, damaging his Williams-BMW.
Rubens Barrichello took fourth spot in the other Ferrari, with Jordan's Jarno Trulli fifth fastest.
Eddie Irvine was 12th quickest for Jaguar.
PA