Schumacher watches low-key German practice session

HOCKENHEIM, Germany, July 28 (Reuters) Ferrari's Michael Schumacher kept a low profile as unsung test drivers stole the limelight in opening free practice for his home German Grand Prix today.

The seven times world champion, chasing a hat-trick of victories this weekend, did not leave the pitlane for the opening hour and watched from the wall as others lapped the Hockenheim circuit.

Williams's Austrian reserve driver Alexander Wurz set the pace, in one minute 16.349 seconds, with Honda's Anthony Davidson second quickest and BMW Sauber's Polish tester Robert Kubica third.

None of that trio will race on Sunday.

Briton Jenson Button, in a Honda, was fourth and fastest of those who will compete, but the times meant little with the main contenders biding their time.

Renault's world champion and overall leader Fernando Alonso, who has a 17 point advantage over Schumacher with seven races remaining, was seventh on the timesheets.

Neither Ferrari nor McLaren ventured out.

Williams's German rookie Nico Rosberg skidded off late in the session, the car coming to a halt without a rear wing, while Midland's Dutch driver Christian Albers pulled over with smoke pouring from the Toyota engine.

The day started with a flurry of technical advisories, with champions Renault challenging and overturning a ban by the governing body on a 'mass damper' device installed in the nose of their car.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) had outlawed such dampers, used by at least seven of the 11 teams, after the last race amid suspicions they were helping improve the aerodynamic performance of the cars.

However Renault submitted their spare car for scrutiny with the component still installed.

The race stewards subsequently ruled that it was permissible, a move that could boost Alonso's chances of ending Schumacher's winning run.

Super Aguri ran their new car for the first time at a grand prix weekend with Japan's Sakon Yamamoto replacing France's Franck Montagny in Sunday's race line-up.

REUTERS DH KP1647