23/06/2006
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today second free practice session, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 38 degrees. It's sunny, but there's a lot of cloud.
The lights go green and first out is Franck Montagny, followed by this morning's pace-setter, Robert Kubica, Doornbos and Mondini, who suffered a technical problem earlier today on his first 'flying' lap. Jani, Montoya and Davidson are also on track.
Montagny posts the first time of the session, crossing the line at 1:23.277, moments later his time is beaten by Jani and Doornbos.
Davidson goes third as Doornbos improves with a 1:20.231 to consolidate his place at the top of the timesheets.
A 1:19.977 sees Davidson go quickest, but moments later Doornbos retakes the top spot. Montoya, having completed his installation lap, waits patiently in his garage.
Christijan albers, sporting a new 'Go Holland' helmet, goes fourth with a 1:21.939, as Jarno Trulli goes quickest in the first sector. Davidson has gone quickest again (21.216), as Trulli goes fourth (22.232). Elsewhere, Albers gets it all wrong at the first chicane.
A 1:19.004 sees Alexander Wurz go quickest, as Trulli improves to third and teammate Ralf Schumacher to fifth.
Robert Kubica is on a very hot lap, the Pole goes quickest in the first two sectors. At the line it's 1:17.249, which puts him 1.7s clear of his nearest rival, Jarno Trulli. This is a youngster who looks assured of a good future in F1, he is blindingly quick.
Ralf goes fourth as Massa heads down the pitlane. The Brazilian was on a fast lap this morning when Monteiro crashed, bringing out the yellow flags. The Ferrari driver goes sixth, splitting Davidson and Doornbos, as Jacques Villeneuve zips up his (oversized) overalls.
Monteiro, Michael, Fisichella and Coulthard are on track, as Neel Jani goes seventh with a 1:19.541.
Albers complains of "no grip, there's nothing there" to his crew, as Michael Schumacher goes second with a 1:18.667. "I've no grip, nothing," continues Albers, "the car just goes to oversteer". In the first session his Portuguese teammate, Tiago Monteiro, went into the 'wall of champions'.
Jenson Button, still sporting his 'England' helmet, is on track, as Montoya goes off following a major lock up - the McLaren looks mighty loose at the front.
Button goes ninth, ahead of Fisichella and Jani, but next time around improves to second, crossing the line at 1:18.541. Montoya is twenty-first, or twenty-one. That said, next time around the Colombian improves to fourteenth with a 20.176.
Mark Webber climbs into his car as Giancarlo Fisichella goes third (18.573).
Fastest through the main speed trap is Wurz at 194 mph.
Local hero Jacques Villeneuve is on track, however he can only manage seventeenth at the first attempt. Following the result at Silverstone, and Kubica's practice pace, the Canadian's many fans will be hoping for another points finish this weekend, possibly even a podium.
Next time around the 1997 World Champion goes fourth with a 1:18.663, giving his fans even more hope for a good result on Sunday.
At half-time it's: Kubica, Button, Fisichella, Villeneuve, Michael, Trulli, Wurz, Ralf, Barrichello and Massa. No times from Raikkonen, Coulthard, Heidfeld, Webber or Rosberg.
As Alonso goes second with a 1:18.353, Kubica goes quickest in the first sector, finally crossing the line at 1:16.965. Almost immediately, Webber goes second (17.848), ahead of Heidfeld.
Kubica tries, but fails, to improve again, as Kimi Raikkonen posts 17.600 to go second. Elsewhere, Michael Schumacher is back on track.
Having posted a personal best in the first sector, Kimi goes quickest of all in the second, finally crossing the line at 1:17.490, to close the gap to Kubica.
With twenty minutes remaining, Rosberg is the only driver not to have posted a time, or even completed a lap. However, at least he's now in his work clothes rather than the 'civvies' he wore throughout the first session.
It sounds and looks painful, but just about every orifice on Michael Schumacher's 248 F1 has a fan attached.
Button is back on track, having slid down to seventh, behind Kubica, Raikkonen, Webber, Wurz, Heidfeld and Alonso.
Fisichella improves to seventh (18.395), slotting in behind his teammate. Meanwhile, Button loses another place as Barrichello goes eighth. Next time around the Englishman manages to leapfrog his Honda teammate.
From out of nowhere, Doornbos produces a sixth, ahead of Alonso, Fisichella and Button. Elsewhere, with ten minutes remaining, Nico Rosberg is finally on track.
Trulli has a problem, the Toyota is crawling around the track, heading back to the pits.
Alexander Wurz goes second (17.337), but remains 0.372s off Kubica's pace. Elsewhere, Nico Rosberg posts 19.048 to go nineteenth.
Out of nowhere Liuzzi produces a 1:18.009 to go fifth, the Italian going second quickest through the speed-trap, behind Davidson. Elsewhere, in his efforts to improve Rosberg goes off on to the grass, however, he is able to continue.
Jacques Villeneuve posts 18.035 which puts him sixth, ahead of his BME teammate, Nick Heidfeld.
Michael Schumacher is on track, the German is currently fourteenth, with teammate Massa twenty-first.
A 1:18.001 sees Alonso go fifth, as Wurz posts a personal best in the first sector. The Austrian goes quickest in the second sector but loses time in the third and consequently fails to improve.
Kubica and Doornbos have completed the most laps (32), ahead of Davidson (31).
In the final moments, Alonso snatches second spot with a 17.095, as Davidson improves to fifth.
The session ends with Kubica quickest, ahead of Alonso, Wurz, Raikkonen, Davidson, Wurz, Fisichella, Webber, Liuzzi, Heidfeld and Villeneuve.
No doubt much will be made of the fact that Michael Schumacher is down in fifteenth, and Massa twenty-second, but as either Jean Todt or Ross Brawn are bound to point out in the Friday press release, this is just a typical Friday.
That said, the Toyotas and Red Bulls don't look to inspiring, and neither do Montoya or Rosberg.
However, like we said, it is Friday.
To check out our Canada practice picture gallery, click here