Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was fastest in a twice halted German Grand Prix practice session on Saturday.

The world champion, hoping to equal his own record of 11 wins in a single season before his home fans on Sunday, lapped the Hockenheim circuit on a damp and overcast morning in one minute 15.066 seconds.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, last year's race winner for Williams, was second quickest 0.211 of a seconds slower with injured team mate Ralf Schumacher watching from the team's garage.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello was third on the timesheets for Ferrari.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen was fourth quickest, ahead of Briton Jenson Button who will be docked 10 places on the starting grid after qualifying later in the day for having his BAR's engine replaced.

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia, replacing Ralf, was eighth.

The 45-minute opening session was twice stopped after Italian Giorgio Pantano, in a Jordan, and Minardi's Hungarian Zsolt Baumgertner hit a plastic bollard at the first corner and ripped the front wings off their cars.

Practice also had to be halted on Friday when German Timo Glock, the Jordan test driver, lost his front wing in a similar incident.

The first red flag came out with 27 minutes remaining when Pantano's error left carbon debris scattered across the track and uprooted the bollard. The session was halted again with 14 minutes to go as Baumgartner did the same.