McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya, returning to Formula One after missing two races due to injury, crashed heavily in practice.
The McLaren driver will make his return in Sunday's race, subject to final medical approval on Friday.
The Colombian had a blistering late lap to outpace his German team mate at Williams Ralf Schumacher.
Ralf Schumacher won the French GP as his team celebrated their second one-two finish in the space of a week.
It was the second win of Montoya's 41 race career and the first of the season for BMW-powered Williams
Williams will lose Ralf Schumacher, currently injured, and Juan Pablo Montoya at the end of the season.
The six-times world champion was 0.362 of a second quicker than Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya's Williams.
Montoya was black-flagged after 57 of the 73 laps and retired in the pits while third.
The Scot is looking for a drive after McLaren signed Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya from Williams for 2005.
Juan Pablo Montoya accused Rubens Barrichello of illegally blocking him in order to help Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher.
The slick pre-season presentations, with teams taking the wraps off new cars and putting a gloss on their prospects, start in Valencia on Monday.
The former McLaren Formula One driver's car was tapped from behind on lap 252 of a 267-lap race at the Miami Speedway.
The world champion set up a front row duel with title rival Juan Pablo Montoya in the Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.
Team mate Sebastian Vettel was second fastest to complete the front-row sweep, with championship leader Lewis Hamilton third for Mercedes.
Jenson Button won a 'Legends Trophy' esports race on Saturday with fellow retired Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve going from last to sixth on his virtual debut.
The world of esports came to the rescue in the absence of a race in Melbourne or indeed of any single-seater series with the Formula E and IndyCar calendars also ravaged by the fast-spreading virus. Red Bull's Verstappen finished 11th in an 'All-star Esports battle' while McLaren's Norris finished sixth in another virtual race.
If Fernando Alonso were to beat the odds and win the Indianapolis 500 on May 28, the double Formula One world champion will be one step away from the 'Triple Crown of Motorsport'.