Alonso on Top at Silverstone - Day One

Spaniard Fernando Alonso finished on top of the times on the opening day of this week's testing at a wet Silverstone circuit.

The Renault driver, who wound up fifth at last Sunday's European Grand Prix, returned to action just 48 hours after the Nurburgring race. On a day in which the poor weather hit the British track, Alonso posted a fastest time of 1:22.075, covering 60 laps.

"In spite of unfavourable conditions, we got a good amount of work done today," said Christian Silk, Renault's chief test engineer. "We learned as much as possible in the wet, both about the tyres and set-up, and our times looked pretty competitive. Both drivers are pleased with how the car is handling here."

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen, the 2003 Championship runner-up who has scored just one point in seven races so far this year, took the revised McLaren MP4-19B out for its first test in the Silverstone downpour, posting the second quickest time behind Alonso.

Raikkonen and teammate David Coulthard were sidelined by engine problems at the Nurburgring on Sunday and no date has been given for the race debut of the revised car, although it is expected to be the German Grand Prix on July 25.

The Williams team were in action with both test drivers Antonio Pizzonia and Marc Gene, the Brazilian outpacing the Spaniard, who was the busiest man today with 82 laps covered.

Jaguar's Christian Klien was the only driver in action at Silverstone for the Ford-owned squad, the Austrian setting the sixth quickest time of the day to finish ahead of Toyota's Cristiano da Matta.

World Champion Michael Schumacher finished down in eighth spot after covering 30 laps with his Ferrari. The German, winner of the European Grand Prix, worked on tyre testing at the wheel of the F2004 car. BAR's Takuma Sato was slowest after 15 laps with the Honda-powered 006 car.

Testing continues tomorrow.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Alonso Renault (M) 1:22.075 60 2. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:22.120 46 3. Trulli Renault (M) 1:23.392 28 4. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 1:23.683 51 5. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:25.748 82 6. Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:26.214 62 7. da Matta Toyota (M) 1:26.220 51 8. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:26.407 30 9. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 1:30.208 15 All Timing Unofficial

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