Days 1&2: Fassler outpaces Alesi

Fassler's Warsteiner-backed CLK headed the silver version of Alesi by just 0.044s on Sunday afternoon.

"It's a good feeling to be faster than Jean," said Fassler. "The new car gives me confidence, but I think my time will be beaten later in the week because the track will get more rubber on it. Generally, it has been a great test for me."

The best of the rest was the Abt Sportsline Audi of Laurent Aiello, who was three-tenths slower than the Mercs.

"It's promising," said the Frenchman. "There is good potential in the car. I think what we have done over the winter has been the right way to go."

Alain Menu's Euroteam Opel was fourth quickest, ahead of the Holzer-run version of Michael Bartels, who clashed with Merc rookie Stefan Mucke on the opening day and lost time while the team repaired his car.

Manuel Reuter gave Opel's third 2002 chassis, which features new front-end aerodynamics, its roll-out on Saturday afternoon, but its fuel tank was found to be leaking and requires a new internal bag.


1 Marcel Fassler, AMG Mercedes, 1m19.699s
2 Jean Alesi, AMG Mercedes, 1m19.745s
3 Laurent Aiello, Abt Audi, 1m20.096s
4 Alain Menu, Euroteam Opel, 1m20.313s
5 Michael Bartels, Holzer Opel, 1m20.967s
6 Stefan Mucke, Rosberg Mercedes, 1m20.979s
7 Manuel Reuter, Phoenix Opel, 1m25.444s