Schumacher gears up for season turnaround in San Marino GP (ANSA) - Imola, April 21 - Michael Schumacher has made it clear that he is out to win the San Marino Grand Prix and give Ferrari a fresh start to the 2006 Formula 1 season .

Schumacher went on the track in Friday's first practice session with only five minutes left in the allotted time but in his second lap he had already clocked the fastest time .

There was no real competition in the first session, with most teams sending out their test drivers, but in the second Schumacher gave world champion and standings leader Fernando Alonso a run for his money and clocked the second best time .

Although Alonso's Renault was the fastest in the afternoon session, his best time was still slower than what the seven times Ferrari champion set in the morning .

Speaking after the practises, Schumacher said "If you ask me whether Ferrari can win on Sunday, my answer is yes" .

The San Marino Grand Prix is the first European race of the season and many believe it will determine whether or not Ferrari can be a real contender for the championship .

After getting off to a good season start with a second place for Schumacher in Bahrain, Ferrari was plagued by engine problems in the second race in Malaysia .

Ferrari appeared to have resolved its engine problems in time for the last race earlier this month, but neither Schumacher nor teammate Felipe Massa could get up to speed in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix .

The race later turned into a disaster for Ferrari when both drivers crashed, Massa right after the start and Schumacher after 32 laps .

Since then Ferrari has been working on its whole package - aerodynamics, tires and engine - both in Italy and abroad .

Speaking to the press at the start of the race weekend, Schumacher said "this will be an important race for us but not a crucial one. We are convinced of our potential and the time has come to show it" .

"The points gap is not a big as it was last year, but its fair to say that we've already lost all the ground we can afford to lose," he added .

In 2005, Ferrari saw its six-year winning streak broken by Renault while Alonso stopped the number of Schumacher's consecutive titles at five .

Massa had the seventh best time in the first session and was fifth in the second, just ahead of Alonso's Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella. Among the other teams, McLaren-Mercedes, currently second in the constructors' standings, appeared to have some trouble and in the afternoon session Juan Pablo Montoya lagged behind in ninth place while Kimi Raikkonen was only 12th .

Honda test driver Anthony Davidson had the fourth best time in the second practice, compared to the 11th position by official driver Jenson Button and 13th from teammate Rubens Barrichello. There will be a third and last practice session Saturday morning ahead of qualifying in the afternoon .