17/03/2006
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's second, and final, free practice session, the air temperature has risen to 36 degrees C, while the track temperature is now 41 degrees.
First out, when the pitlane lights go green, are two of the pace-setters from the earlier session, Alexander Wurz and Anthony Davidson. They are followed by Kubica, Albers and Jani.
Wurz is the first driver to post a time, crossing the line at 1:39051, however, this is soon eclipsed by Davidson and then Kubica, who posts 1:38.515. Jani goes fourth, head of Albers.
Five minutes into the session, and both Toyotas are on track, this season the Japanese team doesn't have the benefit of a third driver.
One has to say, the Toro Rosso looks disgusting, from a distance the livery looks more like a large dollop of raspberry jam has been thrown over the car, than a charging bull.
As Wurz goes quickest (38.107), Massa goes off. The Brazilian is able to continue, having driven along the grass verge, but this is one of a series of incidents he's been involved in this morning. A lack of grip or overzealousness?
Ralf Schumacher goes fourth (39.028) as Davidson goes quickest with a 1:38.012. However, Wurz is already on a very good lap. Indeed, the Austrian goes quickest with a 1:37.860.
That said, Kimi Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector, the Finn using every inch of the Sepang track. He's quickest again in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 1:36.132, that's 1.7s faster than Wurz. Guess, that's what you call throwing down the gauntlet.
Trulli goes sixth, slotting in behind Ralf, as Michael Schumacher leaves the Ferrari garage.
Davidson spins, after the back end simply gets away. The Honda, which is stranded on the kerb is eventually pushed to safety by the marshals, with assistance from the Englishman, whose day's work is at an end.
Meanwhile, Michael has gone third with a 1:37.902, behind Raikkonen and Wurz. Massa goes quickest in the first sector, but loses ground in the second and third. Nonetheless, he goes second with a 1:36.825.
It's looking good for McLaren, as Juan Pablo Montoya goes third, albeit 1.6s off his teammate's pace. On the subject of the Colombian, contrary to media reports earlier in the week, the McLaren driver will not need an engine change this weekend… not yet anyway.
With twenty minutes gone, only 17 drivers have posted times, and still no sign of the WilliamsF1s, Hondas or BMWs, other than their respective third drivers.
Meanwhile, Davidson is back in the pits, telling the Honda guys on the pit-wall what went wrong.
After just two weekends (almost), Robert Kubica is proving to be one of the true finds. The Pole goes third quickest, behind Raikkonen and Massa, with a 1:37.638.
As the Renault drivers leave the pits, Ralf Schumacher begins a hot lap, he is currently eighth fastest, with his teammate tenth. Meanwhile, Alexander Wurz goes second (36.641), courtesy of a very, very quick final sector.
With Davidson out, it's time for one of the other Honda drivers to do some work, cue Rubens.
Fisichella goes fourth (37.231), as Button leaves the Honda garage for the first time today.
Out of nowhere, Alonso produces a 1:36.539, to go second quickest on his first flying lap.
Just after half-time, and it's: Raikkonen, Alonso, Wurz, Massa, Fisichella, Kubica, Barrichello, Montoya, Michael and Davidson.
That said, Alonso takes the top spot with a 1:35.851.
However, it's bad news for McLaren as Montoya stops at the end of the pitlane. The Colombian gets out of the car and storms up the pitlane… then returns with a jack and, despite the intense heat, has to pull the car back up the pitlane alone. When he is finally able to hand over to his crew, he is far from happy. And who can blame him?
In the meantime, Button has gone sixth, 0.922s off the pace, and Barrichello has gone ninth.
Twenty-two minutes remaining, and still not a single lap from Webber, Heidfeld or Villeneuve.
Alonso, Raikkonen, Massa, Fisichella, Wurz, Button, Michael, Kubica, Barrichello and Montoya, with twenty minutes remaining.
As Trulli prepares to go out, he is told that he has to do a full 'launch', then a series of up to laps, then back through the pitlane for another 'launch'. Meanwhile, the Renaults appear to have an oversteer problem at certain corners.
Seventeen minutes remaining, and Heidfeld is the first of the BMW drivers to deign to dignify the fans with an appearance, followed by teammate, Villeneuve. Will BMW employ such tactics in Germany and Canada?
On his first flying lap, Heidfeld posts 1:38.291, which puts him seventeenth. Elsewhere, Trulli goes tenth (37.622), and Villeneuve twenty-fifth (40.454).
Another improvement from Trulli (37.317), who now goes eighth, though his teammate remains nineteenth.
Both BMW drivers improve, Heidfeld to tenth and Villeneuve to seventeenth.
With ten minutes remaining, most of the 'big guns' are on track, including Montoya, whose McLaren appears to be working once again. Even Davidson is back on track.
To check out our Malaysia free practice gallery, click here