Villeneuve goes quickest at Monza

On a hot day, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius, the BMW driver posted a best time of 1:23.370 to finish ahead of the Williams of Nico Rosberg. Villeneuve was also the busiest man on track, covering a massive 125 laps of the Italian circuit.

Teammate Nick Heidfeld showed BMW are looking good for the Canadian and US Grands Prix by posting the third quickest time after 99 laps. Unlike his teammate, however, the German driver did not enjoy a trouble-free day, stopping on track early in the session.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, quickest on the first day of the test, was fourth fastest today, ahead of teammate Heikki Kovalainen, as the Renault team continued with their preparation work for the Canadian and United States Grands Prix.

Kovalainen caused one red flag when he stopped before noon.

Anthony Davidson and Honda teammate Jenson Button followed the Renaults with the sixth and seventh fastest times.

Button had a productive day, covering 123 laps, but the Briton's session was not without trouble. Button had a massive engine failure late in the afternoon, the marshals needing almost 20 minutes to clear the track.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli, 11th quickest, caused another two red flags, the first one when he stopped very early in the morning and the second when he went off the track at the second chicane.

Red Bull drivers Robert Doornbos and David Coulthard caused the other two stoppages during the day. The duo were joined by Toro Rosso driver Tonio Liuzzi, who shared the car with Doornbos, the Italian driving in the afternoon only.

Today's times:

Pos  Driver       Team                     Time     Laps
 1.  Villeneuve   BMW-Sauber          (M)  1:23.370  125
 2.  Rosberg      Williams-Cosworth   (B)  1:23.429   75
 3.  Heidfeld     BMW-Sauber          (M)  1:23.512   99
 4.  Fisichella   Renault             (M)  1:23.664   96
 5.  Kovalainen   Renault             (M)  1:23.689  113
 6.  Davidson     Honda               (M)  1:23.989  118
 7.  Button       Honda               (M)  1:24.392  123
 8.  Wurz         Williams-Cosworth   (B)  1:24.402   93
 9.  Speed        Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M)  1:24.625   76
10.  Coulthard    Red Bull-Ferrari    (M)  1:24.806   78
11.  Trulli       Toyota              (B)  1:25.013   62
12.  R.Schumacher Toyota              (B)  1:25.025   55
13.  Doornbos     Red Bull-Ferrari    (M)  1:26.307   14
14.  Liuzzi       Red Bull-Ferrari    (M)  1:27.597   14


All Timing Unofficial