Button fastest on day 3 at Jerez

The Briton joined team test driver James Rossiter at the Spanish track, where Honda began testing yesterday and are set to continue tomorrow, in what will be their final testing day of the 2006 season.

Button had a trouble-free day, concentrating on testing programme of aerodynamic parts as well as set-up and tyre evaluation for the final three races of the year. He ran a total of 122 laps, with a best time of 1:16.971.

Second fastest man Kubica, with a best time of 1:16.989, completed 118 laps, as he continued a rigorous testing programme for tyre supplier Michelin.

Kubica's teammate Nick Heidfeld was third fastest, the German suffering mechanical failures twice during the day, bringing out the red flags. He continued testing BMW's new electronics system for 2007, setting a best time of 1:17.571 and completing 102 laps.

Final on the time sheets was Honda's Rossiter, who will be replaced tomorrow by the team's third driver Anthony Davidson.

BMW have now completed this week's session, but the team still have three days left of their 36 days testing allotment and will therefore resume testing at Jerez after the Japanese Grand Prix next month.

Today's times:

Pos  Driver    Team             Time       Laps
 1.  Button    Honda       (M)  1:16.971   122
 2.  Kubica    BMW-Sauber  (M)  1:16.989   118
 3.  Heidfeld  BMW-Sauber  (M)  1:17.571   102
 4.  Rossiter  Honda       (M)  1:17.822   111