Badoer Flies at Barcelona - Day Three

Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer set a blistering pace on the third day of testing at the Barcelona circuit in Spain.

The Italian driver, with a laptime of 1:14.881, was over two seconds quicker than what Giancarlo Fisichella had managed with his Sauber on Wednesday to top the times at the Spanish track.

Badoer was joined today by World Champion Michael Schumacher, returning to work following his victory at the United States Grand Prix.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso split the Ferrari drivers in the timesheets, posting the second fastest time with his Renault R24. The French squad's Franck Montagny was again in action with the second car, setting the sixth quickest time of the session.

Sauber's Felipe Massa took over from teammate Fisichella, the Brazilian finishing as fifth quickest.

"Our test today went well and according to schedule," said Sauber's race engineer Mike Krack. "We concentrated on further Bridgestone work and evaluated the tyre compound for Silverstone as well as the tyre construction for the forthcoming races. In the early afternoon we changed the engine as it has reached its mileage.

"For tomorrow we have planned some aerodynamic checks and the assessment of new dampers. The validation particularly of the collected Bridgestone tyre data is also on our schedule."

The Jaguar team had three drivers in action, with Mark Webber finishing as the quickest after a massive 122 laps with the R5.

The Australian was joined today by Austrian teammate Christian Klien, but the rookie was forced to stop testing after being involved in a bizarre incident in which he injured his hand which will force him to miss the final day of testing.

"Christian will not be undertaking any further testing duties in Barcelona after an accident this morning," the team's head of communications Nav Sidhu told Jaguar's website. "In an effort to cool himself, Christian picked up a brake duct-cooling fan but unfortunately let the forefinger of his right hand slip through the protective grill.

"The top of his finger was sliced quite deeply but not as far as the bone itself. It is quite a substantial flesh wound and cannot be simply stitched together. Christian has been given a tetanus injection in order to avoid any further contamination, especially from carbon fibre.

"The wound has been heavily bandaged and we are confident of the healing process being successful prior to the French Grand Prix."

Jaguar's test driver Bjorn Wirdheim finished at the bottom of the times.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:14.881 102 2. Alonso Renault (M) 1:15.194 107 3. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:16.162 71 4. Webber Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:16.335 122 5. Massa Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:17.011 82 6. Montagny Renault (M) 1:17.187 86 7. Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:17.235 44 8. Wirdheim Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:18.025 24 All Timing Unofficial

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