Ahead of today's second free practice session, the air temperature has risen to 27 degrees C, while the track temperature now stands at 35 degrees.

Bjorn Wirdheim is first out, followed by teammate Mark Webber, Leinders, Briscoe and Doornbos.

Ralf Schumacher is one of the first to post a time, the German crossing the line at 1:36.889, though moments later Fernando Alonso posts 1:36.814.

Michael Schumacher goes quickest with a 1:36.462, but is almost instantly demoted as Jenson Button posts 1:36.126. Juan Pablo Montoya is also on the pace, the Colombian goes second with a 1:36.260. However his stay in second is short-lived, as Barrichello posts 1:36.157. It's fast and furious.

Although Button is quickest, it's a question of 'sweet and sour' for BAR, as Takuma Sato stops in the third sector. The Japanese driver suffers an engine failure, which of course will affect his grid position on Sunday.

Michael Schumacher goes quickest but once again he is almost instantly knocked off the top spot, this time by Felipe Massa. With just thirteen minutes gone, everyone has posted a time except for Davidson and the two McLarens.

It's Massa, then Schumacher, Button, Barrichello, Montoya, Alonso, Ralf, Fisichella, Panis and Zonta. Villeneuve is currently fifteenth.

Both McLaren are on track. Kimi Raikkonen goes sixth with a 1:36.274, while DC goes eighth with a 1:36.517.

Fisichella is quickest through the main speed-trap, the Italian hitting 206.2 mph.

Raikkonen goes quickest, the Finn lapping this amazing new circuit in 1:35.370. Elsewhere, Mark Webber goes eighth.

Olivier Panis, who is set to retire from racing at the end of the season, goes fourth, the Frenchman posting 1:36.093. Moments later however, he's demoted by Fernando Alonso, who goes third with a 1:35.514.

From out of nowhere, Rubens Barrichello produces a 1:35.045, to go quickest. Ralf Schumacher improves with a 1:35.636, as brother Michael has one of his traditional 'moments'.

Ryan Briscoe goes quickest in the first sector, only for Montoya to go even quicker. Whereas the Australian maintains his pace in the second sector, the Colombian loses ground. Briscoe goes sixth with a 1:35.728, while Juan Pablo fails to improve, despite his tremendous pace in the first sector.

Jenson Button is first to break the 1:34s barrier, the BAR star posting 1:34.787, that's 0.258s quicker than Montoya. Elsewhere, Montoya improves, but remains tenth, while Villeneuve improves to seventeenth, almost 2s slower than his teammate.

At the halfway stage, it's Button ahead of Barrichello, Raikkonen, Massa, Alonso, Ralf, Briscoe, Panis, Michael and Montoya. Anthony Davidson improves to twelfth, as Ricardo Zonta produces a 1:35.166 to go third.

Briscoe has completed the most laps (18), and is currently eighth.