Schumacher on top at Vallelunga

Ferrari, who kicked off their programme on Tuesday, were working with Luca Badoer and Schumacher, who joined the test today replacing Marc Gene.

While Badoer drove the F2004 fitted with a V10 engine, Schumacher worked at the wheel of the 248 F1, both men working on tyre testing.

Schumacher also concentrated on engine reliability work, covering a total of 128 laps on his way to the fastest time of the day.

Schumacher finished ahead of Britons Anthony Davidson and Jenson Button, who were in charge of testing duties for the Honda team. The team, trying to solve the tyre problems that hindered Button at the Australian Grand Prix, completed over 250 laps.

Williams third driver Alexander Wurz was the other man in action at the Italian track, the Austrian finishing at the bottom of the times.

"We spent the morning testing new suspension parts on both the front and the rear of the car and carrying out some tyre warm up tests," said Williams' test team manager Mike Condliffe.

"The afternoon saw Alex complete tyre comparisons for the forthcoming race at Imola."

Today's times:

Pos  Driver        Team                      Time     Laps
 1.  M.Schumacher  Ferrari              (B)  1:13.831  128
 2.  Davidson      Honda                (M)  1:14.753  156
 3.  Button        Honda                (M)  1:15.445  108
 4.  Badoer        Ferrari              (B)  1:15.924   99
 5.  Wurz          Williams-Cosworth    (B)  1:16.099  101

All Timing Unofficial