Norway's Petter Solberg led the Rally of Mexico into the second leg on Saturday while former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen crashed out.
Citroen filled the top four places at the end of the first day of action on the mountain roads around Leon, with France's Sebastien Ogier 15 seconds behind Solberg.
World champion Sebastien Loeb was third, 27.5 off the pace, and Spaniard Dani Sordo fourth.
Former McLaren and Ferrari F1 driver Raikkonen hit a rock on the first stage, damaging the steering arm of his Citroen, and then lost half an hour in the second when a connection to the fuel pump came loose.
He crashed later in the day, the car rolling several times.
"I'm pretty happy with the morning," said Loeb, who suffered from running early while Solberg started eighth on roads swept clear by those before him. "I drove well and I think I've managed a good damage-limitation exercise given the road conditions.
"We expected that drivers starting far back would be able to take advantage of the situation to open up a good lead...I think today will see a more level playing field for everybody."
Solberg won five of the day's nine stages, with Ogier taking the rest.
Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala was the highest-placed Ford in fifth position.
Championship leading team mate and compatriot Mikko Hirvonen, winner in Sweden last month, hit a rock and then a concrete post in the second stage and was sixth.
