09/07/2004
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second free practice session, the ambient temperature has risen (slightly) to 17 degrees C, while the track temperature is 28 degrees.
Following a technical problem in the first session, Giancarlo Fisichella requires the use of a new engine and will therefore 'lose' ten places on his qualifying position.
Bang on 14:00, it's Zsolt Baumgartner that heads the queue of eager beavers, determined to get back on track. The Hungarian is followed by Davidson, Webber, Heidfeld, Panis, Wirdheim, Glock, Coulthard, Alonso and Klien.
The Minardi driver posts the benchmark (1:27.428), but almost instantly this is eclipsed by Wirdheim, Alonso, Davidson and Coulthard, the Scot posting 1:21.110. As Michael Schumacher goes fourth, Raikkonen goes second, the Finn just 0.123s off his teammate's pace.
The pace is fast and furious, as Alonso goes second, and Button sixth. Ominously, Schumacher goes quickest in the second sector, but then heads back to the pits.
With seven minutes gone, twenty drivers have posted times.
Coulthard is quickest ahead of Alonso, who is ahead of Raikkonen, Zonta, Davidson, Michael, Gene, Wirdheim and Trulli.
Not to be out-done, Barrichello goes fifth, the Brazilian posting 1:21.480, as Davidson goes quickest in the second sector. Next time around the Ferrari driver goes quickest, lapping the Northamptonshire track in 1:20.727.
Following a brief lull, Juan Pablo Montoya goes second quickest with a 1:20.804, just 0.077s off the Ferrari driver's time. Next time around the Colombian goes quickest in the first sector, going on to improve his time but not his position. Meanwhile, Davidson consolidates third with a 1:20.992.
Michael Schumacher, currently tenth, should never be written off, and though his first sector is relatively poor, the second is good and the third superb, the German goes quickest with a 1:20.615.
Next time around the world Champ[ion improves with a 1:20.021, as Montoya hits back with a 1:20.682. David Coulthard clearly wants a piece of the action however, the Scot crossing the line at 1:19.451.
Clearly the MP4-19B likes it here, Kimi Raikkonen goes quickest in the first two sectors, and goes on to complete the lap in 1:19.001, the Finn tops the timesheets.
As Davidson stops with a technical problem, Fisichella goes fourth with 1:20.021. Toyota's Cristiano da Matta finally makes an appearance.
From out of nowhere, Button produces a 1:19.401, which puts the local hero second, in the grandstands the crowd begins waving flags.
Coming up to half-time and Raikkonen tops the timesheets ahead of Button, Coulthard, Michael, Fisichella, Alonso, Montoya, Panis, Barrichello and Davidson.
Sato improves to ninth, albeit 1.2s off his teammate's time, as Michael Schumacher retakes second with a 1:19.300. Next time around the German posts 1:19.162, he's now 0.161s off Raikkonen's time. Meanwhile Barrichello goes six with a 1:20.213.
Although Alonso is seventh, the Renault's continue to disappoint, Trulli is currently nineteenth, having completed just 8 laps. However, Gene is eighteenth having completed 16 laps.
As Alonso improves to fifth, Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector, the MP4-19B looking superb through the Becketts complex. Unfortunately he loses time in the second sector, but regains some pace in the final sector, to cross the line at 1:18.655. Elsewhere, Jarno Trulli goes fifth with a 1:19.601.
With fifteen minutes remaining, it's Raikkonen quickest ahead of Michael, Coulthard, Button, Trulli, Sato, Alonso, Fisichella, Barrichello and Montoya.
Schumacher is back on track, as are Alonso, Panis, Massa, Zonta, Klien and Webber.
Marc Gene is also back on track, the Spaniard posting a 1:19.540 to go fifth.
Meanwhile, Glock's session is over, the Jordan crashes heavily at Bridge, as Juan Pablo Montoya goes eighth. It looked as though the German's car suffered a wheel rim failure. He's out of the car and OK.
Barrichello improves to fifth as Fisichella goes quickest in the first sector. The Italian loses a little ground in the second sector, but crosses the line at 1:18.660 to go second, by 0.005s. Teammate Massa also improves, but can only manage twelfth. Next time around the Sauber driver improves to tenth.
Looking back a few short weeks, who would have believed that this first day of practice would end with the McLarens first and fourth quickest?
Kimi Raikkonen tops the timesheets ahead of Fisichella, Michael, Coulthard, Button, Barrichello, Gene, Trulli, Sato and Massa.
Montoya is eleventh quickest ahead of Alonso, Zonta, Panis, da Matta, Davidson, Klien, Webber, Wirdheim, Heidfeld, Glock, Bruno, Pantano, Leinders and Baumgartner.
It's far too early to draw any serious conclusions - and as all the major press releases will say, 'this is only Friday' - the pace, and reliability of the McLarens is highly promising. Meanwhile the Ferraris look as good as ever, as do the BARs and to a certain extent the Renaults and WilliamsF1s, while the Saubers could well end up snatching a few more points.