28/07/2006
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second session the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 31 degrees. Following a rain shower in between the two sessions, this has been declared a wet session. It is no longer raining, but the track is wet in places and the air is damp.
In case you haven't been following events off-track, the FIA is now appealing its own race stewards decision, whereby they said Renault's 'mass damper' system is legal. Therefore, should the FIA win its appeal (cough), and Renault were to race with the dampers, the French team could forfeit the result and face a further ban, much like BAR last season.
First out is Robert Kubica, followed by Christijan Albers and Mark Webber, who didn't appear this morning. The Australian, on intermediates, is really struggling for grip and returns to the pits.
Alexander Wurz is the first driver to post a time, the Austrian crossing the line at 1:32.862, like his WilliamsF1 teammate he is struggling for grip. Next time around the former Le Mans winner posts 1:30.383.
The Austrian continues lapping, gradually getting down to 1:27.774, though he is still finding it difficult.
Winkelhock goes second (of two!), with a 27.924, as Wurz raises the benchmark with a 26.448.
One by one drivers come out for an installation lap, but after twenty-two minutes there remain only two names on the timesheets.
Conditions are clearly improving, as Wurz goes quickest in all three sectors, finally crossing the line at 1:23.699.
Twenty-five minutes into the session, Michael Schumacher slides into his car, as Davidson is the third name to be entered on the timesheets (23.874).
Doornbos is on track, as are Jani and Monteiro - both Midland race drivers were out-paced by Sato's new SA06 this morning.
Doornbos goes quickest (18.611), ahead of Davidson, Jani, Winkelhock and Wurz, as the times slowly begin to tumble. Elsewhere, Rubens Barrichello heads down the pitlane.
As Sato and Michael Schumacher leave the pits, Robert Kubica goes quickest, crossing the line at 1:18.194.
Like many before him, Schumacher locks-up at the Parabolica, nonetheless, his time (18.528) is good enough for second.
Moments later the German is demoted to third by Davidson, but the Ferrari driver is already on a hot lap. Sure enough the local hero crosses the line at 1:16.917 to go quickest.
Unseen, Button has gone second (17.895) and Barrichello fifth.
As Kimi Raikkonen leaves the pits, Schumacher improves to 16.502, that's only slightly off this morning's pace.
A 1:17.040 sees Raikkonen go second, ahead of Button, Kubica, Davidson and Barrichello.
With just over eighteen minutes remaining, Alonso leaves the pits, as Massa goes fourth (17.715).
Massa improves to third, but Alonso is on a good lap and looks sure to move into the top half of the timesheet. As it is, thanks to the amount of traffic the Spaniard can only manage 18.419, which is good enough for thirteenth.
Pedro de la Rosa goes fourth, ahead of Button, Kubica and the improving Alonso. Wurz is eighth, ahead of Klien, Davidson and Liuzzi.
The two Renaults are running in formation, as Kubica goes quickest in the first sector. He loses ground in the second sector, but finally crosses the line at 1:16.225, to go quickest, the best time of the weekend, thus far.
Still no time from Yamamoto, or Rosberg, who hasn't been out since his accident this morning.
His teammate however, is doing well, Webber takes fifth spot with a 17.344, ahead of de la Rosa, Button, Fisichella and Trulli.
Alex Wurz has completed the most laps thus far (31), but is currently fourteenth. Davidson has completed 20 laps and Jani and Winkelhock 16.
Pedro de la Rosa does a little bit of cross-country at the entry to the stadium, kicking up clouds of dirt as he goes wide. Meanwhile, Alonso, currently fourteenth, comes out for a final run.
Robert Doornbos goes third with a 16.626, just as Red Bull were looking to struggle, Coulthard and Klien both well down the timesheets.
Next time its Barrichello that goes off, one wonders if there's some oil on the track at that corner (Mobil 1).
The session ends with Kubica quickest, ahead of Michael, Doornbos, Raikkonen, Massa, Davidson, Webber, de la Rosa, Barrichello and Button. The Renaults are down in eleventh (Fisi) and fifteenth (Alonso), but we don't suppose the French team will be losing any sleep tonight… unless it's all down to those mass dampers, messy pampers or whatever the bloody things are called.
To check out our Hockenheim practice gallery, click here