Häkkinen's continuing run of poor results. Michael Schumacher came into the race confident that his car would perform well at the circuit. Benetton team principal Flavio Briatore played down his team's chances saying, "We need a miracle to finish on the podium." Almost each of the eleven teams modified their cars for the Grand Prix. Ferrari introduced chimney stacks on the F1-2000 during free practice for the first time as well as additional vents to extract warm air for aerodynamic efficiency. The team reverted to previous specifications for qualifying and the race. It also modified the axle construction at the car's bottom with composite materials designed to minimise friction when it touched the asphalt surface. McLaren installed a new extractor profile for free practice and qualifying but removed it for warm-up and the race. It also asymmetrically positioned the rear-view mirrors, the right placed further forward and lower than the left for improved visibility in the track's final corner. Sauber modified the sides' opening and BAR installed a new body and ailerons. Prost was provided an updated V10 engine from suppliers Peugeot for driver Jean Alesi, who lambasted the engine's driveability. Jordan introduced a revised braking system. Practice There were four practice sessions which were held before the Sunday race—two one-hour sessions on Friday, and two 45-minute sessions on Saturday. The Friday morning and afternoon practice sessions were held in dry and hot weather conditions. Michael Schumacher set the first practice session's fastest lap of 1 minute and 16.474 seconds, two-tenths of a second quicker than Häkkinen. Prost driver Nick Heidfeld was third fastest, ahead of Williams' Ralf Schumacher. The two Jaguar drivers were fifth and seventh, Eddie Irvine ahead of Johnny Herbert. The pair were separated by Fisichella in sixth. Alesi, Arrows' Pedro de la Rosa and Jenson Button of the Williams team were eighth to tenth. Just four drivers set timed laps after two-thirds had passed and fourteen others set one timed lap before returning to the pit lane. There were four drivers who did not set lap times: Coulthard whose car developed a mechanical fuel pump problem, Barrichello drove one installation lap to conserve tyre usage and both Jordan drivers decided to sit out the session. In the second practice session, Coulthard was the fastest driver with a lap of 1:16.253 despite losing 25 minutes due to an oil tank leak that his team repaired by removing