Vettel tops times in practice 2 - Turkey
German new boy Sebastian Vettel topped the times with a stunning debut performance for the BMW Sauber team on Friday in the second free practice session for Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix
The 19-year-old made a sensational start to his Formula One career by setting the fastest time of the day at the challenging Istanbul Park circuit. BMW Sauber's new third driver clocked 1:28.091, which was 0.073s faster than Felipe Massa's Ferrari.
Jenson Button was third for Honda carrying over his pace from this morning's opening practice hour.
His lap of 1:28.506 was just under half a second off Vettel's quickest lap of the session. He finished marginally ahead of his colleague Anthony Davidson, who had a new engine fitted to his Honda in between sessions.
Right at the end of the hour there was a clash between world championship leader Fernando Alonso and Red Bull Racing third driver Robert Doornbos. The pair were running side-by-side heading into Turn 12.
Alonso was late on the brakes and slid into the Dutchman. Slight contact was made and both were able to continue to the pits.
In total there were more than 20 off-track incidents and spins in an action-packed session at the hot Istanbul Park track. The combination of the hot weather, where track temperatures peaked at 51 degrees Celsius, and slippery surface meant a lot of drivers made mistakes.
One driver to succumb was Jarno Trulli, who spun his Toyota at the second from last corner, but he was able to loop it round to continue.
Most drivers fell foul of Turn Nine however, a tricky left-hander at the end of the back straight. On one lap Michael Schumacher missed the apex of the corner and was stripped of his lap for the indiscretion.
Super Aguri's Franck Montagny went off there four times, while 14 other drivers also went wide and spun at the corner. Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Vettel BMW-Sauber (M) 1:28.091 29
2. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:28.164 + 0.073 18
3. Button Honda (M) 1:28.506 + 0.415 10
4. Davidson Honda (M) 1:28.598 + 0.507 31
5. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:28.614 + 0.523 21
6. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:28.819 + 0.728 13
7. Doornbos Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:28.848 + 0.757 15
8. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:29.042 + 0.951 10
9. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:29.112 + 1.021 10
10. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:29.214 + 1.123 16
11. Mondini MF1-Toyota (B) 1:29.719 + 1.628 27
12. Alonso Renault (M) 1:29.741 + 1.650 16
13. Jani Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:29.858 + 1.767 30
14. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:29.890 + 1.799 20
15. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:30.006 + 1.915 18
16. Montagny Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:30.491 + 2.400 25
17. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:30.502 + 2.411 9
18. Fisichella Renault (M) 1:30.504 + 2.413 16
19. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:30.509 + 2.418 36
20. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:30.551 + 2.460 17
21. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:30.775 + 2.684 13
22. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:30.889 + 2.798 16
23. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:31.015 + 2.924 17
24. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:31.091 + 3.000 11
25. Yamamoto Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:31.316 + 3.225 21
26. Monteiro MF1-Toyota (B) 1:31.519 + 3.428 15
27. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) 1:31.526 + 3.435 10
28. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:31.540 + 3.449 10
29. Albers MF1-Toyota (B) 1:32.102 + 4.011 7
All Timing Unofficial
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