Ahead of today's second free practice session, the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 22 degrees. The sun is shining and most of the damp patches have gone - this is the first session of the weekend not to be declared 'wet'.

First out is Rubens Barrichello, who only completed an installation lap in the first session.

The Brazilian posts his first time of the day, crossing the line at 1:52.007. Sato, Michael, Villeneuve, Button, Trulli, Fisichella, Alonso and Massa are also on track, it's very, very busy out there.

Michael goes quickest (49.449), ahead of Villeneuve, Barrichello, Sato, Button, Fisichella, Trulli and Doornbos.

The action is frantic as Ralf, Fisichella and then Raikkonen all go quickest, when the dust settles, it is the Finn that tops the timesheets with a 1:48.090. Next time around he improves to 1:47.511.

Fifteen minutes into the session, the only driver that hasn't posted a time is Montoya.

He finally emerges from the McLaren garage, and immediately goes quickest in the first sector. He's quickest again in the second, finally crossing the line at 1:47.463.

There are just three cars on track, Fisichella, Massa and Michael, with twenty minutes of the session remaining.

Fisichella goes quickest with a 1:47.420, clearly there's life in the Renault yet. Teammate Alonso is on track, and goes quickest in the first sector. The Spaniard is quickest in all three sectors and takes the top spot with a 1:46.920.

Jenson Button is also on track however, and the Englishman is quickest in the second sector. He crosses the line at 1:48.013, which puts him sixth, just ahead of his teammate.

Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector, and again in the second. However a poor final sector sees him fail to improve.

Michael is on track and sets a personal best in the first sector. His second sector is quicker than anyone else, but can he maintain the pace? He crosses the line at 1:47.773, to go fifth.

Juan Pablo Montoya posts personal bests in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 1:46.858, to go quickest. However, he wasn't quickest in any of the sectors.

With five minutes remaining, there's a final burst of activity, as Alonso goes second (46.920) ahead of Button (47.419). However, next time around the Spaniard improves with a 1:46.307, as Trulli goes second with a 1:46.681.

Robert Doornbos posts 1:49.208, which puts the Minardi driver ahead of Pizzonia, Coulthard and Villeneuve. He's only 0.3s behind Ralf Schumacher.

That said, next time around the Toyota driver goes fifth with a 1:47.054, as Villeneuve also improves, to eleventh.

Everyone is on track except Trulli and Button, as Kimi takes second spot with a 1:46.641. If this was qualifying, the two world Championship protagonists would be sharing the front row… but it isn't.

The session ends with Alonso quickest, ahead of Raikkonen. Jarno Trulli is third quickest, ahead of Montoya, Fisichella, Ralf, Button, Sato, Michael and Barrichello.