15/10/2005
NEWS STORY
Ahead of the first of this morning's two free practice sessions, the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 20 degrees. It's sunny and bright, a little hazy, but nothing like we saw on Friday.
The lights go green, and first out is Doornbos, followed by Albers. They are soon joined by Monteiro, Karthikeyan and Raikkonen, who clearly can't wait to get to work.
As the drivers return to their garages, having completed the obligatory installation lap, Pizzonia and Montoya take to the track, indeed, the Brazilian continues around to post the first time of the day, 1:37.725.
The WilliamsF1 driver continues around, a slight off indicating that the track remains 'green', however he gets down to 1:36.034 as he proceeds with the Grove outfit's usual Saturday programme.
Mark Webber comes out to play, as does Jarno Trulli, as Pizzonia improves again, crossing the line at 1:35.674.
Webber posts 1:37.543, just as his teammate goes off in the second sector, the Brazilian's (apparent) nightmare continuing. He spun the car then stalled it: "I tried a different line, it wasn't good," he tells his crew over the radio.
Fisichella and the Schumacher brothers are on track, as Trulli goes third (38.774) and Karthikeyan fourth (39.078).
On his first flying lap Giancarlo Fisichella posts 1:34.554 to go quickest, as Ralf goes fourth behind Webber, who has improved to 1:36.512. Despite a minor off, Michael Schumacher posts 1:38.104 to go seventh, ahead of his teammate, Rubens Barrichello, who posts 38.706.
Out front, Fisichella improves to 1:34.472, as Ralf leapfrogs Webber to go third, and Barrichello goes sixth (37.279).
Takuma Sato is on track, the Japanese driver really needing a good result here this weekend. The BAR driver goes third (36.191), as Michael improves to sixth (36.561).
With thirteen minutes remaining, only ten drivers have posted times, and five - Button, Alonso, Villeneuve, Massa and Klien - haven't even completed an installation lap.
David Coulthard takes the sixth spot from Michael, the Red Bull driver posting 1:36.545. Meanwhile, Massa and Villeneuve are both on track, as is Button.
Coulthard improves to fourth (36.174), as Webber goes seventh, ahead of Michael, and Villeneuve eleventh (38.209).
As Massa goes ninth (36.713), Coulthard improves yet again, crossing the line at 1:35.963 to take third.
Pizzonia, who has held on to second spot, despite spinning out much earlier in the session, is demoted to third by Montoya, who posts 1:34.849. Meanwhile, Button goes fourth (35.846).
As the mechanics continue to work on Christian Klien's car, Fernando Alonso finally makes an appearance.
On his second flying lap, Kimi Raikkonen goes quickest (34.317), as Fisichella goes third, ahead of Webber, Button and Coulthard. Elsewhere, Trulli spins but is able to continue.
On his first flying lap, Alonso goes eighth (35.441), but then improves to fourth (34.631). Meanwhile, Raikkonen consolidates top-spot with a 1:34.253.
Barrichello improves to twelfth (35.994), as the session comes to an end, while Massa also improves, taking ninth with a 1:35.532.
The session ends with Raikkonen quickest, ahead of Montoya, Fisichella, Alonso, Webber, Button, Coulthard, Sato, Massa and Pizzonia.