21/04/2006
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second session - in which we seriously hope to see all drivers posting proper times - the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 30 degrees. It remains sunny with barely a cloud in the sky.
The lights go green and first out is Yuji Ide, followed by Kubica, Albers, Sato, Davidson, Mondini, Monteiro and Tonio Liuzzi.
With just three minutes of the session done, Robert Kubica looks set to post the first time of the session, having gone quickest in the first two sectors, but then opts to return to the pits.
Consequently, Sato goes quickest, but his time is quickly eclipsed by a number of drivers, with Liuzzi ultimately finishing top of the pile with a 1:29.905. That said, moments later, Davidson posts 1:28.509.
A 1:29.141 sees Wurz go third, behind Davidson and Albers, as Ralf Schumacher leaves the Toyota garage.
Wurz takes the top spot with a 1:28.378, as Jarno Trulli exits the other Toyota garage.
Whereas Ralf returns to the pits, Jarno continues, whilst Kubica (27.998), goes second, splitting Wurz and Davidson.
As Raikkonen leaves the McLaren garage, Trulli crosses the line at 1:28.511, to go fourth, 0.566s off the pace.
Davidson has a big spin, but is able to continue, as Kimi Raikkonen posts 1:27.325, to take top spot, having gone quickest in the first two sectors. Teammate Montoya is also on track.
Next time around, the Finn goes even quicker, beating his previous time by 0.543s. Meanwhile, Wurz locks up heavily at the last corner as he tries to avoid going into the back of Doornbos, who has gone off across the grass.
As Montoya goes second (27.658), Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa come out to play. Elsewhere, Kubica has spun.
Montoya improves again, closing to within 0.283s of his teammate. Giancarlo Fisichella and Michael Schumacher are now on track.
Massa goes quickest in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 1:26.913, which puts him between the two McLarens. Next time around, Massa goes quickest in the first two sectors, but teammate Michael Schumacher is also on a hot lap. Massa dives into the pits as Schumacher goes third with a 1:26.933.
Fernando Alonso is on track, as Michael once again goes quickest in the first two sectors. The German crosses the line at 1:25.470 to go quickest, the Ferrari, and Bridgestones, looking good.
Behind the Ferraris and McLarens, Fisichella goes fifth, ahead of Wurz, Trulli and Barrichello.
A 1:26.583 sees Fernando Alonso go second, albeit 0.894s off the pace. Next time around, the Spaniard looks set to improve but finds himself bogged down by traffic.
Teammate, Fisichella however, has no such problems, and improves to fourth with a 1:26.828.
Half-time, and still no times from Ralf, Coulthard, Villeneuve, Klien, Webber, Rosberg, Button and Heidfeld.
Kubica improves to sixth, which puts him ahead of Montoya. However, moments later, Barrichello goes third, posting 1:26.653, only to be demoted (almost instantly) by Montoya who posts 1:26.645.
In the Ferrari garage the mechanics are working franticly on the front of Michael Schumacher's car, as Montoya improves to second (26.334).
Davidson has completed 18 laps, the Englishman on an endurance run, his previous attempt wrecked by that spin.
Alexander Wurz closes to within 0.858s of Schumacher as he goes second, ahead of Montoya, Alonso, Davidson, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Fisichella and Kubica.
Having set personal bests in the first two sectors, Alonso goes quickest of all in the third, crossing the line at 1:25.732, just 0.262s down on Schumacher.
Jenson Button goes fifth (26.569), as Massa goes sixth. Still no times for Rosberg, Webber or Heidfeld.
Michael is back on track and immediately goes quickest in the first sector. The second sector isn't too good, having thumped a bollard at the Variante Alta, consequently he dives into the pits.
Fisichella is on track, as is Nico Rosberg.
Jarno Trulli takes third spot with a 1:26.029, as Davidson continues his mammoth run, having already completed 23 laps.
Fifteen minutes remaining: Michael, Alonso, Trulli, Wurz, Montoya, Button, Massa, Davidson, Barrichello and Raikkonen.
Davidson bangs in a 1:25.699 to go second, just 0.229s down on Michael.
On his first flying lap of the day - almost his first lap of the day - Heidfeld goes eighteenth with a 1:27.561. Next time around the German makes a mistake at Rivazza, which prevents any kind of improvement.
Massa and Michael leave the Ferrari garage, as Heidfeld improve to eighth with a 1:26.387.
With six minutes remaining, Mark Webber finally leaves the WilliamsF1 garage.
As Schumacher is on a hot lap, a Super Aguri goes off ahead of him, then, at the final corner, he slows, in order to leave a decent gap between himself and the car ahead.
Webber has gone twenty-third (27.767), elsewhere, Alonso, Massa and Raikkonen are all on hot laps.
Fisichella and Raikkonen both have big 'moments', but are able to continue.
Alonso goes quickest in the first sector, as Kubica takes top spot with a 1:25.421.
Alonso goes quickest with a 1:25.043, as Michael goes quickest in the second sector. The German pushes all the way to the line but he is unable to do anything about the Spaniard's 'lead'.
The session ends with Alonso on top, ahead of Michael, Kubica, Davidson, Massa, Fisichella, Trulli, Wurz, Montoya, Heidfeld, Button, Raikkonen, Barrichello, Albers, Villeneuve, Doornbos, Rosberg, Liuzzi, Webber and Coulthard.
Pretty much a 'normal' Grand Prix Friday, however, it's good to see that Renault might not be getting it all it its own way again this weekend.