No Kimi-Schu duel at Jerez

(GMM) The program for Michael Schumacher's Jerez test has been modified so that the retired champion does not go head-to-head with his successor Kimi Raikkonen.

Although Ferrari's head of track activities Luca Baldisserri revealed last week that Schumacher, 38, "will be driving at Jerez on 4 December", it now emerges that the German will not exit the Spanish circuit's pitlane until two days later.

Instead, the opening two days of the final test of 2007 will be reserved for Ferrari's new world champion, with the other side of the Italian team's garage to be occupied by test driver Marc Gene.

"Kimi will test on 4 and 5 December (and) Michael on 6 and 7 December," a Ferrari spokesman told the German newspaper Bild.

After more than a year on the sidelines, Schumacher set the pace when he tested for two days earlier this month in Barcelona.

"The comparison (between Raikkonen and Schumacher) will not take place," the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport mourned.

Bild, meanwhile, reasoned that separating the two famous drivers will "enable Ferrari to make its excuses if Schumi is faster than Kimi".

Like Raikkonen, 2007 runner-up Lewis Hamilton will also return from a post-season break to test at Jerez.