22/07/2005
NEWS STORY
Ahead of the first free practice session for the 2005 German Grand Prix, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 27 degrees. IT's overcast, but the sun is attempting to break through.
First out is Jordan new boy Nicolas Kiesa, experiencing the car for the first time, he is followed by Wurz, Zonta, Doornbos, Karthikeyan, Villeneuve and Liuzzi. David Coulthard, Takuma Sato and local hero, Michael Schumacher, are also early risers.
Rubens Barrichello is on track as Christian Klien spins, however the Austrian is able to continue. Kimi Raikkonen, Silverstone winner, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button are also keen to complete their installation laps.
Seven minutes into the session, Ricardo Zonta posts the benchmark, crossing the line at 1:24.730. Next time around he trims it down to 1:22.240, as Alexander Wurz, back in the third McLaren, goes quickest with a 1:19.122.
Next time around the Austrian improves to 1:17.376, as Trulli and Fisichella leave their respective garages.
As Nicolas Kiesa leaves the Jordan garage, it's worth noting that both BAR drivers have been out for a second installation lap.
Tonio Liuzzi goes third with a 1:21.685, as Kiesa posts 1:25.664. Next time around the Dane improves to 1:24.435, remember, he has never driven this car before.
Karthikeyan goes fifth (24.645) as Kiesa improves to 1:22.905.
Twenty minutes into the session, and Albers leaves his garage, followed by Michael Schumacher. Ferrari teammate, Rubens Barrichello, is also on track.
A 1:18.700 sees Schumacher go third, behind Wurz and Liuzzi, as Barrichello goes fifth, splitting Zonta and Albers.
Schumacher improves to second (18.047), as Barrichello goes third (18.221) and Doornbos goes seventh, ahead of Kiesa and Karthikeyan.
Zonta posts 1:17.551, to move ahead of Schumacher, but remains 0.352s off Wurz' pace. Next time around the Toyota test driver goes quickest with a 1:17.096.
The Brazilian consolidates his place at the top of the timesheets with a 1:16.657, as Liuzzi goes fourth, splitting the two Ferraris.
As Tiago Montiero goes seventh, quickest of the three Jordans, Wurz posts 1:16.856, to get within 0.199s of Zonta. Next time around the Austrian goes quickest with a 1:16.631.
The McLaren third driver improves yet again (16.410), the continues around to post 1:15.859.
With twenty-five minutes remaining, Mark Webber goes sixth with a 1:18.811, however, moments later he is demoted as Kimi Raikkonen goes second (16.160).
It's fast and frantic, as Zonta goes quickest (15.518), ahead of Wurz, Raikkonen and Montoya, who goes fourth ahead of Sato.
Jarno Trulli goes seventh (17.341) ahead of Liuzzi, Button, Webber and Barrichello. Moments later, Button posts 16.913 to go sixth.
Takuma Sato goes fourth (16.795) ahead of Montoya, Button and Michael Schumacher.
With seventeen minutes remaining, Villeneuve, Fisichella and Alonso are the only drivers that haven't posted a time. Villeneuve's teammate Felipe Massa however, has posted a time, his 1:17.540 good enough for tenth.
Alexander Wurz posts 1:14.496 to go quickest, out-pacing Zonta by over a second. Next time around he goers even quicker, posting 1:14.277.
With just over ten minutes remaining, Wurz is quickest, ahead of Zonta, Raikkonen, Michael, Sato, Montoya, Button, Trulli, Massa and Liuzzi.
A 1:16.280 sees Rubens Barrichello go fifth, as Zonta improves to within 0.616s of Wurz' benchmark.
Thus far, Zonta has been the busiest driver, completing 26 laps, followed by Kiesa and Liuzzi, both on 23.
Jenson Button improves to third with a 1:15.851, ahead of Raikkonen, Michael and Barrichello. However, moments later, Raikkonen posts 15.634 to re-take third.
Jacques Villeneuve finally posts a time, the Canadian going seventeenth with a 1:18.679.
Silverstone winner, Juan Pablo Montoya, goes fifth, ahead of Michael and Barrichello, with a 1:15.901.
The session ends with Wurz quickest, ahead of Zonta, Raikkonen, Button, Montoya, Michael, Barrichello, Liuzzi, Sato and Ralf.
In every sense it's been a typical Friday session, though once again the WilliamsF1s are worryingly off the pace, even though the Grove outfit insists that Friday is not about times. The Sauber are also off the pace, as are the Red Bulls, while the Renault duo opts to sit it out.