Barrichello Pips Michelin Runners at Jerez - Day Two

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello went quickest on the second day of this week's testing at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain.

The Ferrari driver topped the timesheets with his F2004 with a best time of 1:17.572, outpacing Briton Jenson Button in the first of the BAR-Hondas on track today. Barrichello was the only Bridgestone runner in action, the other 12 drivers using Michelin rubber.

BAR were one of four teams who joined the Jerez test, the final one before the mandatory August break. Test driver Anthony Davidson was third quickest in the second Honda-powered 006 car, the Briton finishing just over a tenth behind teammate Button.

Renault's Franck Montagny was the busiest driver with a total of 117 laps at the wheel of the R24 car. The French outfit also worked with Finn Heikki Kovalainen, who returned to Formula One action for the first time since the end of last year, when he tested for both Renault and Minardi. The Finn finished at the bottom of the times.

"We completed some useful work today in Jerez," said Renault's Christian Silk, chief test engineer. "Heikki had a small problem which delayed him this morning, but then settled quickly and made good improvements to his lap time, without any mistakes. He ran a very sensible first day, and gave interesting feedback on his programme. He did a good job.

"Franck spent the main part of his day tyre testing for the next races, but also continued looking at the ride of the car. We made some small improvements in this area, and Franck will pursue this further tomorrow."

Williams worked again with both their test drivers, one of which is likely to replace the injured Ralf Schumacher at the German Grand Prix. Antonio Pizzonia was the fastest of the two, outpacing Spaniard Marc Gene by nearly a second.

Pedro de la Rosa and Alexander Wurz continued at the wheel of McLaren's MP4-19, the Spanish driver posting the sixth quickest time. Wurz, meanwhile, was eighth, behind Toyota's tester Ricardo Zonta, who was the fastest of the two Japanese cars on track.

Brazilian Cristiano da Matta put more miles in Toyota's revised car, the TF104B, but he only managed the 11th quickest time of the day after 60 laps.

The Jaguar team began their German Grand Prix preparations today with Christian Klien and Bjorn Wirdheim carrying out testing duties. Austrian Klien was the fastest of the two despite suffering an engine failure in the morning.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:17.572 90 2. Button BAR-Honda (M) 1:17.966 114 3. Davidson BAR-Honda (M) 1:18.096 44 4. Montagny Renault (M) 1:18.103 117 5. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 1:18.280 89 6. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:18.393 89 7. Zonta Toyota (M) 1:18.758 80 8. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:18.787 78 9. Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:19.112 85 10. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:19.190 98 11. da Matta Toyota (M) 1:19.218 60 12. Wirdheim Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:19.965 83 13. Kovalainen Renault (M) 1:20.436 65 All Timing Unofficial

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