Ahead of today's second session the air temperature is 32 degrees C, and the track temperature is 50 degrees. It remains hot and sunny.

First out, once the lights go green, is Mondini, followed by Wurz, Vettel and Yamamoto.

Davidson is back on track, having suffered an engine failure in the first session, as is Jani.

Mondini tops the timesheets (32.556), but both Davidson and Vettel are on hot laps, the German posting 32.174 only to be demoted by the Honda driver who crosses the line at 30.819.

As Ralf and Montagny head down the pitlane, Davidson raises the benchmark with a 30.665. Meanwhile, Yamamoto gets seriously out of shape, the Super Aguri looking a real handful. As further proof, Montagny loses the back of his car and spins off.

Ralf goes third (32.207), slotting in behind Vettel, but ahead of Wurz. Elsewhere, Trulli and Rosberg head down the pitlane.

It must be a thing with Japanese cars today, now it's Trulli's turn to spin off, Turn 9, in particular, appearing to cause drivers problems. Meanwhile, his Toyota teammate, Ralf, improves to second with a 30.767.

As Doornbos goes third, Vettel goes quickest in the first sector. The German loses a little ground in the second sector, but crosses the line at 30.630 to go quickest. This kid is good!

As Trulli goes fourth (31.618), Vettel is already looking set to improve yet again, however, despite going quickest in the first sector he is unable to raise the benchmark.

Meanwhile, Massa is on track, and going quickest in the first two sectors. Sure enough, the Ferrari driver takes the top spot with a 29.743, as Coulthard, Albers, Speed and Klien leave the pits.

The two World Championship protagonists, Michael and Fernando, leave the pits as Speed goes fifth (31.130).

Schumacher is one of several drivers who appears to be 'bottoming' at several points around the track. Nonetheless, he goes quickest in the second and third sectors, to go quickest overall (29.273). 1-2 for Ferrari.

Fisichella, Button, Barrichello and Webber leave the pits as Alonso goes third, the Spaniard crossing the line at 1:30.556.

Speed improves to third (30.421), as Michael consolidates the top spot with a 29.224.

A 29.741 sees Alonso go second, however, he is quickly demoted by Hungary victor Button, who posts 29.504. On his next lap the Englishman looks set to improve, however a minor mistake sees him go wide and lose over 2s. Elsewhere, another big spin for Montagny.

Approaching half-time, it's: Michael, Button, Alonso, Massa, Speed, Fisichella, Barrichello, Vettel, Davidson and Ralf.

A 29.910 sees Ralf improve to fifth, ahead of Speed, Barrichello and Fisichella.

Straight out of leftfield, Pedro de la Rosa fires in a 29.112 to take the top spot, the Spaniard having only completed one flying lap. Meanwhile, teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, is beginning his first hot lap of the session. The Finn crosses the line at 29.634 to go fourth. McLaren, Ferrari, Honda, McLaren, Renault and Ferrari.

Robert Kubica, who we haven't today, is finally on track, posting a 30.867 to go fourteenth.

Michael is pushing hard, but is having difficulty in closing the gap to de la Rosa. Meanwhile, Speed, currently tenth, is pushing hard.

Biggest disappointment, at this stage, are the Red Bulls, all of them over 2.5s off the pace.

Rubens Barrichello posts 29.597, to go fifth, splitting Raikkonen and Alonso.

With fourteen minutes remaining, it's all gone a little quiet, other than for Mondini who looks set to improve. Sure enough, the Swiss driver goes sixth with a 29.719. We'll repeat that, a Midland goes sixth!

Fisichella joins the (growing) list of drivers to go wide, as Coulthard, clearly frustrated at his car's lack of pace, is involved in an animated conversation with his crew.