The big news, ahead of today's free practice sessions is that Timo Glock will replace Giorgio Pantano for the remainder of the weekend. Less than twenty minutes before the start of the first session, we spoke to Jordan's press officer Helen Temple who confirmed that the German will be driving, indeed she was in the process of putting together an official press release.
As ever, only the twenty race drivers will take part in today's free practice sessions as we prepare for the all-important qualifying sessions this afternoon.
Ambient temperature is 16 degrees C, while the track temperature is also 16, which isn't bad when you consider that it's eight in the morning.
First out is Timo Glock, who will be keen to get in as much track time as possible. The German is followed by da Matta, Panis, Baumgartner, Bruni, Fisichella, Heidfeld, Raikkonen, Ralf and Coulthard. Gianmaria Bruni certainly deserves a special mention, he was very impressive in the Minardi yesterday.
As most of the drivers head back to their garages, da Matta continues round, completing a second lap before returning to his garage.
Seven minutes into the session, Michael Schumacher comes out, continuing round to post the first time of the day. The German crosses the line at 1:17.629, that's 3.6s off yesterday's pace. Next time around the Ferrari driver improves to 1:16.130. Another lap, and it's 1:15.732 as the six-time World Champion continues chiselling away at his time.
Rubens Barrichello is the second driver to post a time (1:18.004), followed by Baumgartner who posts 1:23.100. Next time around the Hungarian improves with a 1:20.501, while teammate Bruni posts 1:20.072, meanwhile Barrichello has improved to 1:17.092.
With seventeen minutes gone, Trulli, Alonso and Klien have yet to make an appearance, while only seven drivers have actually posted a time.
Massa goes second, splitting the Ferraris, as Heidfeld goes fourth, Glock goes sixth, splitting the Minardis.
Barrichello goes quickest in all three sectors to post 1:14.856, as Massa goes third ahead of Heidfeld and Glock.
Ralf Schumacher goes third with a 1:16.323 only to be leapfrogged moment later by his teammate who goes second with a 1:15.336.
Almost twenty-five minutes into the session and Fernando Alonso comes out to play, the Spaniard immediately goes quickest in the first sector. He's quickest again in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 1:14.438, that's 0.418s quicker than Barrichello. Next time around he breaks the 1:13s barrier for the first time this weekend, crossing the line at 1:13.946.
Moments later, teammate Jarno Trulli goes second (1:14.421), ahead of Barrichello, Michael, Montoya, Fisichella, Massa, da Matta, Panis and Ralf.
With just over fifteen minutes remaining, we've yet to see a time from the McLaren, Jaguar and BAR drivers. Indeed Klien hasn't even completed an installation lap.
Fisichella posts a 1:15.290 to consolidate his fifth position, 0.7s quicker than his Brazilian teammate.
With twelve minutes remaining, Jenson Button posts 1:14.047 to go second, as Montoya improves to sixth. Klien goes fourteenth with his first timed lap of the day. The Austrian improves to eleventh as Ralf goes seventh.
David Coulthard goes fifth with a 1:14.747 as Takuma Sato comes to (hopefully) take over where he left off yesterday. That said, the Japanese driver aborts his run and returns to the BAR garage.
Elsewhere, Kimi Raikkonen goes sixth - behind teammate Coulthard - while Alonso remains the only driver to have broken the magical 1:13s barrier.
Mark Webber goes twelfth with a 1:15.854, which leaves Sato as the only driver yet to post a time.
Raikkonen improves to fourth, behind the Renaults and Button, but ahead of the Ferraris. However, both of the red cars are on track and looking very stable around the Montreal track.
Barrichello goes third with a 1:14.284, while teammate Schumacher posts the fastest time of the day in the first sector. He's quickest again in the second and eventually crosses the line at 1:13.865. Read 'em and weep.
Massa improves to twelfth but still no sign of Sato.
The session ends with Michael quickest, ahead of Alonso, Button, Barrichello, Trulli, Raikkonen, Coulthard, Montoya, Ralf and Fisichella.
da Matta is eleventh ahead of Massa, Panis, Webber, Klien, Heidfeld, Glock, Bruni, Baumgartner and Sato.
