teams (each representing a different constructor) and all of them entered two drivers each. There were few alterations to cars for the Grand Prix since teams were focused on the design of their 2001 vehicles. Changes focused on the requirement to improve the cooling of the mechanical components of each car to cope in Malaysia's humid climate. Multiple teams opened additional slots on the rear section of their vehicle's sides, while the Williams squad, installed chimneys they had used at the for the Friday free practice sessions before returning to a conventional design model the following day. Benetton installed a new engine specification in Alexander Wurz's car with a modified weight distribution. Practice There were four practice sessions preceding Sunday's race—two one-hour sessions on Friday, and two 45-minute sessions on Saturday. The Friday morning and afternoon sessions were held in hot and dry weather conditions. Several teams reported poor radio reception, possibly caused by the large grandstands situated around the track. Michael Schumacher set the first session's fastest lap, at 1 minute and 40.290 seconds, seven-tenths of a second quicker than teammate Barrichello. Coulthard was third quickest despite spending the majority of the session dealing with an clutch problem. Häkkinen set the fourth fastest time, ahead of Jaguar's Eddie Irvine and BAR's Jacques Villeneuve. Giancarlo Fisichella of Benetton, Herbert, Ricardo Zonta and Wurz (in his final race driving for Benetton) placed seventh through tenth. Some drivers went off the circuit and onto the grass during the session. In the second practice session, Häkkinen set the day's fastest time, a 1:40.262; Coulthard, his teammate, was the third fastest entrant. The Ferrari drivers remained quick—Michael Schumacher in second and Barrichello in fourth—although the latter started to experience flu symptoms. Jarno Trulli was fifth quickest for Jordan, ahead of Ralf Schumacher. Zonta ran quicker during the session and was seventh fastest. The Benetton drivers Fisichella and Wurz, along with Jordan driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen completed the top ten. Coulthard briefly drove onto the grass at the entry to KLIA Curve when he braked later than expected and went through the gravel to return to the racing line. Mika Salo abandoned his Sauber car in the gravel trap at Sunway Lagoon Corner after he lost control of his vehicle. The weather remained hot and dry for the Saturday morning practice sessions. Lap times continued to decrease prior to qualifying later in the day. Wurz was