The largest ever Irish crowd at a Grand Prix will be cheering on Eddie Irvine who was fourth fastest yesterday - ahead of his teammate - in this afternoon's qualifying session for tomorrow's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

However, they had little to cheer after B&H Jordan's Ralf Schumacher and Damon Hill were a disappointing 13th and 14th respectively in free practice.

Irvine was refreshed after a few days back in Dublin last week and after two practice sessions he was fastest of all bar the ominously quick McLarens and surprise of the day Johnny Herbert.

"The car has the new exhausts and bodywork but it's the worst it's been all year. Too much oversteer, too much understeer, too much of everything!" he said.

Irvine is more concerned about his back during the race than the car's behaviour: "It's still gets bad after about five laps. It won't matter for qualifying but I'll have to get the injection before the race," he added.

Eddie Jordan is under pressure from Benson & Hedges who were expecting more from their £20 million investment. Zero points after four races has been a bitter disappointment.

Jordan said after the session: "I don't think our position really reflects how we will go in qualifying. Other drivers were running different fuel loads and tyres so we should not be too despondent."

Former champion Hill insists he can still bring Jordan their first points of the season in the race. "I don't think our position shows the true complexion of things," said Hill. "By no means am I despondent at finding myself in 14th place. I can still work very well with the car.

"We just need to have confidence that the work we have done with the car will come through in our result in qualifying."

Former world champion Jackie Stewart was given a much-needed boost by his driver Rubens Barrichello. The Brazilian, who scored the team's only points in Monaco nearly a year ago, finished a promising seventh fastest at the end of first practice for tomorrow's race.

The Brazilian's placing was a vast improvement on their recent performances which had led to speculation about the team's exclusive £200 million five-year engine deal with American car giant Ford.

But three-time drivers' champion Stewart said he was still disappointed that the improvement was not greater and admitted it probably would not last until today's qualifying session.

On a day of surprises there was nothing unexpected about the drivers who finished first and second as McLaren's Hakkinen and Coulthard again oozed superiority.

Hakkinen came out on top today with Coulthard, who trails his team-mate by just three points after his victory in Italy last time out, just over eight tenths of a second slower.

Sauber's Herbert also enjoyed a happier session, after being dogged by misfortune in recent races, to finish a fine third fastest just ahead of Irvine in the Ferrari.

"Things look promising. Hopefully we can make the first 10 in qualifying - maybe better," said Monaco-based Herbert.