With just a minute or so before today's second free practice session kicks off, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, and the track temperature is 22 degrees. And it is still raining.

Five minutes into the session, Robert Doornbos is first to venture out. The Dutchman gingerly dips his toe in the water - so to speak - but it all goes wrong, he spins off not far after the end of the pitlane and is stuck on the kerb. To make matters worse, he stalls. The marshals push him back into the pitlane, where he returns to the sanctuary of the Minardi garage.

Pizzonia is the second driver to go out, but as the rain falls even harder, he opts to dive back into the pits.

Twenty-two minutes into the session, Fernando Alonso is the third driver to go out. Thankfully, he doesn't peel off into the pits at the end of his lap, and continues around.

The Spaniard crosses the line at 1:55.798, which will hopefully prompt some of his rivals to get out there. Sure enough, Villeneuve and Klien leave their garages. Moments later they are joined by Fisichella, as Alonso improves with a 1:54.020.

As Villeneuve goes second with a 1:59.325, Alonso improves yet again, crossing the line at 1:53.289. Barrichello and future teammate, Jenson Button, are on track.

As Ralf, Massa, Coulthard and Trulli leave the pits, the Ferrari mechanics continue to work on Michael Schumacher's damaged car.

Fisichella goes quickest, the Italian posting 1:52.619, as Klien goes second (52.897).

Jenson Button goes second, ahead of Trulli, as Rubens Barrichello goes seventh (53.739), behind Albers.

For a brief moment, David Coulthard goes quickest, but then Jarno Trulli eclipses him, crossing the line at 1:51.824. Ralf goes third to add to Toyota's delight.

Still no times from Michael or the two McLaren drivers, with seven minutes remaining.

Mark Webber goes quickest in the WilliamsF1 (51.274), but moments later Christijan Albers goes second in the Minardi. The Dutchman posts 1:51.668.

Conditions are clearly improving as drivers take it in turns to post fastest times in various sectors, however, there is still no sign of either Michael Schumacher or the McLarens.

Ralf Schumacher goes quickest (50.369), ahead of Fisichella, Albers, Webber, Trulli and Coulthard.

As we attempt to recover from the sight of Albers so close to the top of the timesheets, in a Minardi, Narain Karthikeyan has to go one step further, posting a 1:50.150 to go quickest. Moments later his thunder is stolen when Fisichella restores the status quo with a 1:50.136.

The session ends with Fisichella quickest, ahead of Karthikeyan, Ralf, Button, Albers, Monteiro, Webber, Trulli, Coulthard and Doornbos.

That's four Bridgestone runners in the top ten.