Alonso Fastest at Barcelona - Day One

Spanish driver Fernando Alonso finished on top of the timesheets on the opening day of this week's testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.

Five Formula One teams kicked off their programmes at the Spanish circuit today, just 48 hours after the Bahrain Grand Prix. Another three teams are scheduled to join later in the week.

Renault driver Alonso, who finished in sixth place in Bahrain last Sunday, led the way today with a time of 1:15.263 at the wheel of the R24 car. The eight drivers on track were very closely matched, with only one of them not being able to lap the Spanish track in less than 76 seconds.

Briton Anthony Davidson was second fastest in the Honda-powered BAR, the test driver sandwiched between the two Renaults. Italian Jarno Trulli, fourth in Bahrain, got back to work to post the third quickest time less then four tenths of a second behind teammate Alonso in the second of the R24s, which today incorporated the new spefification engine.

"Overall, we had a reasonable first day in Barcelona," said Renault's executive director of engineering Pat Symonds. "The new developments ran without problems on Jarno's car, and performed as we had predicted. We will continue to learn about them during the rest of the week.

"Tomorrow, both drivers will run the new engine specification: Jarno will complete a race distance, while Fernando will concentrate on tyre and set-up work."

The McLaren-Mercedes team were back in action following their dismal Grand Prix weekend, working with both test drivers Alexander Wurz and Pedro de la Rosa, who will try to improve the MP4-19's reliability following the retirements of Bahrain. Wurz was the quickest of the two, finishing fourth, while de la Rosa was sixth.

Italian test driver Luca Badoer worked for the Ferrari team, testing the F2004 for the first time at the Barcelona circuit. Badoer concentrated on tyre testing and set the fifth fastest time of the day.

Toyota drivers Ricardo Zonta and Olivier Panis finished at the bottom of the times, the Frenchman being the only man unable to lap in the one minute 15 seconds bracket.

Testing at Barcelona continues tomorrow.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Alonso Renault (M) 1:15.263 100 2. Davidson BAR-Honda (M) 1:15.405 96 3. Trulli Renault (M) 1:15.623 61 4. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:15.766 67 5. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:15.845 67 6. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:15.929 87 7. Zonta Toyota (M) 1:15.984 102 8. Panis Toyota (M) 1:16.455 42 All Timing Unofficial

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