08/04/2010
NEWS STORY
History has taught us that the best window in which to set the fastest time at the Spanish track is during the morning. On the second day of the final pre-season test, this theory was truly verified with Jerome d'Ambrosio claiming the top spot ahead of newcomer Christian Vietoris and Pastor Maldonado.
The morning was red flagged seven times starting with Jules Bianchi who span at Turn 4 nine minutes after the pitlane opened. It was then Adrian Zaugg's turn to halt the session. Coloni's Vladimir Arabadzhiev span at Turn 7 on the two hour mark followed twenty minutes later by Dani Clos who stopped his Racing Engineering car near Turn 5. Subsequently, Rodolfo Gonzalez lost control of his Arden car at Turn 6, while six minutes later, it was Giacomo Ricci who span at Turn 5. The last red flag was courtesy of Max Chilton who stopped at Turn 4.
Amidst all this, d'Ambrosio managed to climb to the top of the timesheets with a 1:27.182 closely followed by Vietoris and Maldonado. In fourth, Fabio Leimer (Ocean) preceded Bianchi, Sam Bird and Clos. Luiz Razia finished in eighth place ahead of Ricci and Charles Pic.
Things went smoother in the afternoon expect for Marcus Ericsson who hit the barriers at the chicane before the final corner and had to sit out the rest of the session. Leimer took the lead early in the session and kept it until d'Ambrosio improved his lap time by one tenth, but soon enough, it was Maldonado who claimed top spot lapping the Spanish track just four hundredths faster than the Belgian. Leimer confirmed his strong form finishing third fastest ahead of Sergio Perez (Addax), Vietoris, Razia, Davide Valsecchi, Pic, Clos and Oliver Turvey in the second iSport car.