03/09/2005
NEWS STORY
Ahead of the first of today's two free practice sessions, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 22 degrees. It's dry and sunny.
Ignoring Ricardo Zonta's unrepresentative time on Friday, it is clear that McLaren has the edge here, while several teams, most notably Ferrari and BAR are struggling for pace.
The big news is that Antonio Pizzonia is replacing Nick Heidfeld in the WilliamsF1 in this session, though the exact reason is not known at this point.
First out is Robert Doornbos, in the Minardi, followed by Tiago Monteiro in the 'new' Jordan EJ15B. Karthikeyan and Albers are also keen to get out on track.
Montoya and Raikkonen are both early risers, however, like the Jordan and Minardi drivers, having completed an installation lap, they return to their garages.
In all honesty, it seems extremely relaxed at Monza, with no-one (seemingly) that eager to get to work, even Pizzonia. That said, the Brazilian was in action here last week, during the three-day test.
Eighteen minutes into a forty-five minute session, and only six cars have made an appearance, none of them posting a time.
Twenty minutes into the session and Fernando Alonso leaves the Renault garage and heads off down the pitlane, he is followed by teammate, Giancarlo Fisichella.
Having completed an installation lap, the Spaniard stays out, it looks as though the session is finally underway. He rides the kerbs hard at the second chicane, his first 'flying' lap and he's already pushing hard. Teammate Fisichella has also stayed out.
Alonso posts the benchmark (24.539), but this is almost immediately beaten by the Italian (23.704).
Next time around Fernando improves to 1:23.059, but again Fisichella goes quicker (22.900). Elsewhere, Karthikeyan goes third (26.237).
As Karthikeyan improves (25.172), both Renault drivers return to their garages, though Giancarlo goes quickest in the second sector on his 'in' lap.
Ralf Schumacher is now on track, but by the first split he's already 0.9s down on Fisichella. The German posts 25.470, which puts him fourth, behind Karthikeyan. Meanwhile, Sato is on track in the BAR.
Next time around, Ralf improves to third (24.452), however, he remains 1.5s off Fisichella's pace, having lost time at the second chicane.
As Sato posts 1:24.902 to go fourth, Villeneuve and Barrichello are on track.
Pizzonia leaves the WilliamsF1 pit as Barrichello goes sixth (26.335) and Sato improves to third (24.352). Jarno Trulli is also on track.
Sato improves (23.718) as does Barrichello, who goes fifth with a 25.098.
Both Red Bull drivers are on track, as Pizzonia posts 33.274, to go eighth, behind Villeneuve. Next time around the Canadian improves to fifth (25.041).
Despite going wide at Ascari, Pizzonia improves with a 1:26.072, but remains slowest of the nine drivers that have posted a time.
Webber and Button are on track as Trulli goes fifth (24.406). Only Michael and Massa, his 2006 teammate, have not made an appearance yet.
Rubens improves to fourth with a 23.942, as Pizzonia posts 24.627, to go eighth.
With five minutes remaining, both Massa and Michael leave their garages, as Raikkonen and Montoya.
Like yesterday, Webber is immediately on the pace, the Australian going third with a 23.162. Meanwhile, Juan Pablo goes quickest in the first sector. Moments later however, Michael goes quickest in the first sector.
The German goes quickest in the second sector also, as Montoya goes third (23.064). However, moments later the World Champion crosses the line at 22.728 to go quickest.
Montoya responds by going quickest in the first sector, as teammate Raikkonen goes straight to the top of the timesheets with a 1:22.694.
Montoya goers even quicker, crossing the line at 1:22.676, as Alonso posts 22.867 to go fourth.
A 22.415 sees Raikkonen reclaim the top spot, as Michael goes quickest in the final sector to snatch second from Montoya with a 22.550. Jenson Button is eighth, behind teammate Sato.
Massa improves (24.447) but remains fifteenth, as the Swiss team continues to struggle here.
The session ends with Raikkonen quickest, ahead of Michael, Montoya, Alonso, Fisichella, Webber, Sato, Button, Ralf and Barrichello.