Cristiano da Matta is first out for the second session, as the air temperature rises to 32 degrees C, and the track temperature rises to 50 degrees.

The Brazilian is joined on track by teammate Olivier Panis and Jaguar's Bjorn Wirdheim. Pantano, Zonta and Fisichella are also keen to get stuck in.

da Matta sets the benchmark, the Brazilian crossing the line at 1:17.872, 0.252s quicker than his teammate.

Moments later Ricardo Zonta posts 1:17.421, as Alonso goes fifth, albeit 1.3s off the pace.

Having failed to post a time in the first session, Mark Webber is keen to get to work in the second. The Australian goes quickest with a 1:17.349. His thunder is soon stolen by Michael Schumacher, who in turn is quickly eclipsed by that man Davidson.

When the dust settles, Davidson is quickest, ahead of Schumacher, Raikkonen, Button, Barrichello, Coulthard, da Matta, Montoya, Webber and Zonta. With no times from any of the Minardi drivers.

Thirteen minutes into the session, Baumgartner posts 1:20.822, to go twenty-first. It all goes a little quiet, with just seven cars on track.

It's still early days, but the Renaults are far from impressive thus far, while WilliamsF1 doesn't appear to have made a serious leap forward.

Jaguar's Bjorn Wirdheim posts 1:17.087, to go seventh, as Alonso improves to fifteenth.

Michael Schumacher comes out and immediately goes quickest in the first sector. He's quickest again in the second, going on to complete the lap in 1:15.362, beating Davidson's time by 0.945s. Barrichello also improves, the Brazilian goes second with a 1:15.738.

Meanwhile, Takuma Sato, who has been curiously quiet thus far, goes quickest in the second sector, going on to cross the line at 1:15.470, going second.

Moment later however, he's bumped down to third by Antonio Pizzonia.

Fernando Alonso posts 1:15.677, to go fourth, 0.315s off Schumacher's pace.

Toyota's Ricardo Zonta goes eighth with a 1:16.520, making him the highest placed of the Japanese team's runners. Moments later however, he's bumped down by Coulthard.

Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen goes quickest with a 1:15.045, eclipsing Schumacher by 0.317s. The Finn's moment of triumph is precisely that, seconds later Schumacher goes quicker still, posting 1:15.001.

Davidson meanwhile consolidates fourth position, closing to within 0.575s of the World Champion. Not to be outdone, Jenson Button posts 1:15.379 to go third.

With twenty minutes remaining, the order is: Schumacher, ahead of, Raikkonen, Button, Pizzonia, Davidson, Sato, Alonso, Barrichello, Coulthard and Zonta.

It's still far too early to be making predictions, after all this is Friday when traditionally the teams are simply carrying out fine-tuning and evaluations rather than going for times. However, the Toyotas and Renaults are not looking impressive.

That said, Jarno Trulli goes eleventh, albeit 1.659s off the pace. Mark Webber is another 'improvee' the Australian going thirteenth as teammate Klien goes fourteenth. Next time around, Webber posts 1:16.514, to go eleventh.

David Coulthard appears to have a brake problem, he spins, but manages to keep the car out of trouble.

Meanwhile, Juan Pablo Montoya suddenly produces the sort of pace that put him on pole here last year, the Colombian goes third with a 1:15.167, just 0.166s off Schumacher's pace.

Fisichella improves to sixteenth, the Italian failing to find his form from the first session.

DC however, has another spin, opting to soldier on.

There are still lots of cars on track but there don't appear to be any improvements. With just over a minute remaining however, Button grinds to a halt on the start/finish straight, though it's not clear why.

The session ends with Schumacher on top, just 0.002s outside the magical 1:14s barrier.

Kimi Raikkonen is second, ahead of Montoya, Button, Pizzonia, Davidson, Sato, Alonso, Barrichello and Zonta.

Coulthard is eleventh quickest ahead of Wirdheim, Webber, Trulli, Klien, Massa, Fisichella, da Matta, Panis, Glock, Pantano, Baumgartner, Leinders, Heidfeld and Bruni.