09/07/2005
NEWS STORY
With just three minutes to go before the start of today's second free practice session, the air temperature is 16 degrees C, while the track temperature is 21 degrees.
With the first part of the first session affected by the damp track, it took a little while before we began to see some representative times. With the track now completely dry, albeit cool, we can expect the pace to rise in this session, though it's unlikely drivers will match the pace of Zonta and de la Rosa on Friday.
The lights go green, and it is some minutes before we see any action, finally Tiago Monteiro leaves the Jordan garage and heads off down the pitlane. He's followed by Kimi Raikkonen. Karthikeyan, Trulli and Ralf are also keen to get to work.
Monteiro sets the benchmark (27.910), but this is soon bettered by teammate Karthikeyan who crosses the line at 1:25.361.
However, all eyes are on Kimi Raikkonen, who has come to a standstill in the second sector. It's unclear what his problem is, since there's no smoke or anything. Meanwhile, Trulli goes quickest with a 1:22.188.
Although Raikkonen has a problem, teammate Montoya doesn't, the Colombian goes quickest with a 1:22.087, though is soon eclipsed by Trulli (21.763). Ralf Schumacher (22.354) goes third.
Alonso goes third, as Sato goes fifth, and Webber seventh.
The Spaniard posts 1:21.252 to go quickest as Heidfeld and Villeneuve leave their garages.
Brilliant stuff, Patrick Friesacher locks up his Minardi as a rabbit (hare) runs across the track. We're sure that was down to the Austrian's love of animals rather than an attempt not to damage his car.
A 1:20.746 sees Alonso consolidate the top spot, ahead of Trulli, Montoya, Ralf, Button and Sato.
On his first 'flying lap' of the session, Michael Schumacher goes third (21.868), though he's 1.12s off Alonso's pace. Teammate Barrichello goes sixth (22.419).
Next time around the seven-time World Champion posts 1:21.365, to go second.
Giancarlo Fisichella, who has yet to post a time, goes quickest in the second and third sectors, going second quickest with a 1:20.928. 1-2 for Renault.
Fisichella improves (20.848) as teammate Alonso goes quickest in the first sector. The Spaniard goes quickest again in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 1:20.077 to raise the benchmark ever higher. Meanwhile, a 1:20.128 sees Juan Pablo Montoya slip into second.
As Raikkonen makes his way back to the garage, David Coulthard's session comes to an end as he pulls off track, not far from the Finn's McLaren. Again, there is no clue as to what the problem might be.
Jenson Button goes third (20.763), ahead of Fisichella, Klien and Michael.
With ten minutes remaining, we encounter what has become the traditional lull before the drivers make their final assault, and try those last minute changes before this afternoon's qualifying session. Only Trulli and Monteiro are on track.
Hard to believe, but the Portuguese driver is currently ninth fastest (22.036), 1.95s off the pace yet ahead of Ralf, Webber, Sato, Villeneuve and Massa.
A 1:20.449 sees Jarno Trulli go third, as former teammate, Fernando Alonso, returns to the track.
One by one the drivers leave their garages, the final burst of frantic activity is about to begin.
Villeneuve is the first driver to improve he goes ninth (21.476), while Michael consolidates seventh (20.893).
Klien goes eighth (21.064), as Fisichella, in the final moments, post 1:20.798, but remains sixth, ahead of Michael and Heidfeld and Klien.
Webber also improves, a 1:21.004 putting him eighth, ahead of his teammate.
The session ends, with Alonso holding on to the top spot, ahead of Montoya, Trulli, Ralf, Button, Fisichella, Michael, Webber Heidfeld and Klien.
On Friday, McLaren appeared to have the upper hand, however today's sessions, combined with Raikkonen's problem, indicate that the issue is far from settled, with Renault and Toyota both looking strong.