Ahead of today's second free practice session, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, and the track temperature is 40 degrees. The sun is shining.

The usual suspects are first out, and once the dust has settled - literally in Takuma Sato's case - Davidson is quickest (1:19.470), ahead of Kubica, Doornbos, Sato, Mondini, Jani and Montagny.

Ten minutes into the session, Ralf Schumacher is the first of the 'big guns' to take to the track. Moments later he is joined by Massa and Trulli.

As Davidson raises the benchmark to 1:18.970, Ralf goes quickest in the first sector, finally crossing the line at 1:18.660, to take top spot.

Massa's first lap is only good enough for sixth (19.767), as Michael Schumacher heads off down the pitlane. Jarno Trulli goes third, but is almost instantly bumped down by Jani and Doornbos.

As Rosberg goes second (18.757), Davidson is going quickest in the first two sectors. The Englishman finally crosses the line at 1:18.463, as Ralf goes second ahead of Rosberg and Michael.

Massa improves to third (18.681), only to be leapfrogged by his teammate who posts 1:18.381.

Jacques Villeneuve posts 1:19.443 to go eleventh, ahead of Kubica, Albers, Mondini, Sato and Monteiro.

Michael improves again (18.053), as Doornbos - the victim of some ludicrous internet misinformation this morning - goes second with a 1:18.266.

Whether it's the continual sniping from Giancarlo Fisichella or the fact that through no fault of his own he will forfeit ten grid spots, something, or someone, has lit a fire underneath Villeneuve, the Canadian goes quickest with a 1:18.007. Moments later however, he is topped by Rubens Barrichello.

Meanwhile, Monteiro claims that there is "something weird" about his Toyota powerplant.

Nick Heidfeld goes eighth, as Alonso and Webber head down the pitlane.

A 1:17.064 sees Davidson go quickest, as Alonso goes quickest in the first sector. Having gone quickest in the final sector also, the Spaniard goes second, crossing the line at 1:17.224.

Next time around, the World Champion posts 1:16.860 to go quickest, as Michael Schumacher leaves the Ferrari garage.

On his first timed lap, Webber goes fourth (17.908), ahead of Villeneuve, Michael, Doornbos, Ralf, Massa and Kubica. With twenty-six minutes remaining, all but six drivers have posted times.

That said, Giancarlo Fisichella goes third (17.291), as Wurz improves to fifth (17.908).

All eyes on Michael as the German goes quickest in the first sector. The German loses a little pace in the second sector but finally crosses the line at 1:17.416 to go fourth.

Jenson Button is on track, the Englishman, who has already written off any hopes of a Honda win this weekend, about to post his first time of the weekend. The Honda driver goes fourth (17.414), ahead of Michael, Barrichello and Doornbos.

Montagny and Liuzzi both have sizeable 'moments', as Fisichella takes fourth spot from Button with a 1:17.291.

Christian Klien - who was the other victim of this morning's internet bulls**t rumour - goes third with a highly impressive 17.086.

A 1:16.824 sees Robert Doornbos go quickest, with just twelve minutes remaining.

Juan Pablo Montoya heads off the pitlane, the Colombian set to be the first of the McLaren drivers to post a time today.

Alonso is on a run, not even attempting to go for a time, as Montoya posts a disappointing 1:19.131, to go twentieth. That said, the top 14 are covered by just 1.084.

As Michael goes quickest in the first sector, Juan Pablo almost comes to grief, going very, very wide and on to the grass. The German fails to improve, but elsewhere, Davidson goes quickest with a 1:16.533.

Montoya improves to sixteenth (18.261), as Kimi heads down the pitlane.

The MP4/21 simply doesn't look good here, and as if to prove the point Kimi also goes very wide. The Finn crosses the line at 1:17.933 to go fifteenth, three spots ahead of his teammate.