15/10/2005
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second, and final, free practice session, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, and the track temperature is also 21 degrees.
The lights go green, but as ever there is no rush to go out on track. Finally, after almost five minutes, World Championship runner-up, Kimi Raikkonen, is first out. A few moments later he is joined by Takuma Sato.
The Finn posts the first time of the session, crossing the line at 1:34.099. As Coulthard, Alonso and Villeneuve come out to play, Sato goes second with a 35.959.
Raikkonen improves (33.933), that's his quickest lap of the weekend, thus far. Elsewhere, Sato spins, but is able to rejoin.
Montoya goes second (34.014) to give McLaren 1-2, as Alonso goes third with a 1:34.448. Coulthard is fourth, ahead of Sato, Ralf and Villeneuve.
A 1:35.702 sees Fisichella go sixth, as Klien makes his first appearance of the day.
Button posts 1:35.088 to take fourth, as Michael goes eighth with a 35.937.
On his first timed lap of the day, Klien posts 1:35.213 to go sixth.
Button consolidates fourth with a 1:34.834, as Massa goes ninth (35.867), splitting the Schumacher brothers.
The Ferraris (Bridgestones?) really appear to be struggling, Barrichello posts 1:36.021, to take thirteenth.
Webber posts 1:35.004 to take fifth, ahead of Fisichella, Klien and Coulthard. However, moments later he's leapfrogged by teammate Pizzonia. Elsewhere, Klien goes off into the gravel, but is able to rejoin.
It's not over yet, declares Renault's Fernando Alonso, who posts his quickest time of the weekend (33.918), to go quickest.
Not to be outdone, Raikkonen responds with a 1:33.880, these two are separated by just 0.038s.
Montoya gets in on the act, consolidating third spot with a 1:33.981.
Michael Schumacher crosses the line at 1:34.998, to take seventh, but remains 1.118s off the pace. Elsewhere, Trulli improves to ninth (35.107).
The only driver that hasn't made an appearance in this session is Karthikeyan.
With ten minutes remaining, it's: Raikkonen, Alonso, Montoya, Button, Pizzonia, Fisichella, Michael, Webber, Trulli and Coulthard.
Villeneuve, currently eighteenth, spins off, but is able to rejoin. Elsewhere, Sato improves to twelfth (35.280).
With five minutes remaining, Montoya goes quickest in the second sector, going on to cross the line at 1:33.554 and take top spot. However, Raikkonen and Alonso are both on track.
Kimi posts a personal best in the first sector, then goes quickest of all in the second. As Fisichella posts 1:34.392 to go fourth, the Finn crosses the line at 1:33.212 to take back the top spot.
As Button goes wide, Alonso posts 33.793, but remains third. Meanwhile, Barrichello goes sixth with a 1:34.535.
There's a dramatic last minute improvement from Coulthard, who goes fifth with a 1:34.453, the Scot wringing the neck of the Red Bull. Meanwhile, a hot lap from Webber is messed up when the Australian makes a mistake at Turn 14.
Qualifying is set up almost perfectly as the final free practice session of 2005 ending up with both McLarens and both Renaults in the top four.
Raikkonen is quickest, ahead of Montoya, Alonso, Fisichella, Coulthard, Barrichello, Button, Michael, Pizzonia and Webber.