As we prepare for today's final free practice session, the air temperature has risen to 31 degrees C, while the track temperature is currently 35 degrees.
The lights go green, and Ralf Schumacher is first out of the stalls, indeed the German is the only driver who appears to want to get to work.
Almost two minutes later, as the German prepares to post the first time of the session, Kimi Raikkonen leaves the pits, followed by Jarno Trulli, the only other drivers to make an appearance thus far.
Ralf posts 1:36.027, as Friesacher leaves the Minardi garage.
In the BAR garage the mechanics are working on Jenson Button's car. There was some smoke coming out of the back of the 007 at the end of the first session… could this mean another new engine?
A 1:35.301 sees Raikkonen go quickest, ahead of Trulli (1:35.366) and Ralf (1:35.507).
Meanwhile, Montoya is on track, as are Karthikeyan, Klien, Alonso and Davidson.
Raikkonen improves to 1:34.644, as teammate Montoya slips in behind, the Colombian posting 1:35.204.
Moments later, Trulli, splits the McLaren duo with a 1:35.137, only to be almost instantly demoted by Alonso who posts 1:34.805 on his first flying lap. Next time around the Spaniard goes quickest, crossing the line at 1:34.312. Meanwhile, Montoya has reclaimed third spot from Trulli.
David Coulthard goes sixth with a 1:35.907, as Michael Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella come out.
The German is on scintillating form, he immediately goes quickest, crossing the line at 1:34.102, eclipsing Alonso by 0.210. Fisichella meanwhile goes fifth.
Still no sign of Button making an appearance, as Barrichello leaves the Ferrari garage. Webber and Massa are also on track.
Coulthard goes off but is able to rejoin, then the red flags come out when Fisichella spins off - losing his front wing in the process - and becomes embedded in the kitty litter.
Following the criticism of what happened in Melbourne, when marshals put themselves in danger as they attempted to get Michael Schumacher going, we witness attempt to push Fisichella out of the gravel, only for the Renault driver to accelerate, thus causing the hapless guy to fall. Luckily he appears to be unhurt. It could have been nasty… as soon as he put his hands on the rear tyre, Fisichella span the wheels.
After just a few minutes the session is back on.
The rhythm of the session has been interrupted, but now Barrichello, Webber, Massa, Villeneuve and Monteiro are all on track.
As Trulli goes quickest in sector one, Webber goes tenth with a 1:36.344. Moments later, Kimi Raikkonen posts the fastest time of the weekend, crossing the line at 1:33.349, then, within second, both Toyota drivers go even quicker, Jarno Trulli taking top spot with a 1:32.832. That's 0.2s quicker than last year's pole time.
Jacque Villeneuve take a major trip across the grass as Coulthard goes third. Meanwhile, Alonso goes quickest in sector one, as Heidfeld prepares to post his first time of the session. Still no sign of Button.
A 1:32.880 sees Alonso goes second, as Montoya improves (1:33.689) to go eighth, ahead of Michael.
Meanwhile, Christian Klien continues to impress, the Austrian youngster going second with a 1:32.870.
It's Trulli, Klien, Alonso, Ralf, Coulthard, Raikkonen, Davidson, Montoya, Michael and Fisichella.
Heidfeld, who returned to his garage, has yet to post a time, while Button hasn't even left the BAR garage. All-in-all, this is turning into a bit of a nightmare weekend for the Brackley team.
After a little lull in the action, Villeneuve posts 1:35.627, to go thirteenth, ahead of Webber.
There are lots of cars on track, but no improvements. That said, Fisichella posts 1:33.194 to go sixth.
Mark Webber goes quickest in the final sector, which is enough to lift him to eighth, as teammate Heidfeld finally looks set to post a time. Sure enough, the German posts 1:33.468, which sees him demote his teammate.
Just two cars on track, Coulthard and Fisichella, but neither driver improves, the session ends on a quiet note, certainly when compared to the frenzy of the first session.
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