Barrichello shines in Honda debut at Jerez

Both de la Rosa and Barrichello posted a best lap of 1:16.732, although both men were driving V10-powered cars, and it was World Champion Fernando Alonso who set the fastest time of the V8-engined cars.

Barrichello had a promising first day of work with the Honda team, the Brazilian finally testing for his new squad. The former Ferrari driver took to the track in an hybrid car fitted with a V10 engine and managed 47 laps of the Spanish track.

The Brazilian, who ended up physically tired after two and a half months of not driving, completed a handful of laps with the hybrid car fitted with the V8 engine late in the day. Despite some problems with his seat, Barrichello was pleased with his day.

Alonso also made a promising debut at the wheel of the new Renault.

The Spanish driver, testing the R26 for the first time, completed a good day for the French squad, covering 66 laps with the new machine and outpacing his teammate Giancarlo Fisichella, who today drove the old R25 car with a detuned V10 engine.

Marc Gene took over from Michael Schumacher and Luca Badoer as Ferrari continued working with both the F2004 fitted with a V8 engine and last year's V10-powered F2005. Gene completed 47 laps in the F2004 but posted his best time in the F2005.

Mark Webber also joined the Jerez test today, replacing new Williams tester Alexander Wurz in one of the two Cosworth-powered cars at the Spanish track.

The other was driven by Nico Rosberg, who managed 49 laps on his way to the seventh fastest time, but the German driver could not escape trouble again and lost valuable time as his mechanics tried to solve some electronic problems in his Williams.

Nick Heidfeld was again the man in charge of testing duties for the BMW team, the German finishing 12th quickest after losing time in the morning due to electronic problems.

Scott Speed replaced teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi at the wheel of the Toro Rosso car, the American making his official debut as their third driver. Speed did not have the best of days, suffering problems in his car.

"Things did not go as well as yesterday," said team boss Franz Tost. "This was primarily because of several red flag periods caused by other cars. But we also lost about an hour with a fuel pressure problem while Scott was doing some set-up work, as we then had to change the fuel pump.

"Nevertheless Scott was able to do a reasonable number of laps and, overall, these two days have given us a good basis on which to prepare for our next test, starting on 25th January in Barcelona."

Today's times:

Pos  Driver        Team                Tyres  Time     Laps
 1.  de la Rosa    McLaren-Mercedes     (M)  1:16.732  65  *
 2.  Barrichello   Honda                (M)  1:16.732  47  *
 3.  Alonso        Renault              (M)  1:18.706  66
 4.  Gene          Ferrari              (B)  1:18.825  79  *
 5.  Webber        Williams-Cosworth    (B)  1:18.838  40
 6.  Zonta         Toyota               (B)  1:18.916  89
 7.  Rosberg       Williams-Cosworth    (B)  1:19.048  49
 8.  Davidson      Honda                (M)  1:19.084 106
 9.  Trulli        Toyota               (B)  1:19.164  97  
10.  Fisichella    Renault              (M)  1:19.462  83  *
11.  Paffett       McLaren-Mercedes     (M)  1:19.606  87  *
12.  Heidfeld      BMW-Sauber           (M)  1:20.148  79
13.  Speed         Toro Rosso-Cosworth  (M)  1:21.035  64  *
14.  Klien         Red Bull-Ferrari     (M)  1:21.469  44

* V10 engine

All Timing Unofficial