Button Sets Blistering Pace at Barcelona - Day Two

Briton Jenson Button set a blistering pace on the second day of testing at the Barcelona circuit in Spain, lapping more than a whole second quicker than McLaren's test driver Alex Wurz.

The Renault driver, who finished in fifth place at last Sunday's European Grand Prix, worked on a Michelin tyre development programme in preparation for the forthcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Button lapped only three tenths of a second slower than the current track record, held by Wurz.

"We had a productive day overall in Barcelona," said Renault's technical director Mike Gascoyne. "Jenson worked well this morning, concentrating on tyre choice for Silverstone, whereas the benefits of this afternoon's testing will be seen in the longer term."

Brazilian Felipe Massa took over from teammate Nick Heidfeld at the wheel of the only Sauber on track, the young rookie setting the third quickest time of the day. Massa was the busiest man today, completing a total of 92 laps around the Spanish circuit.

"I really enjoyed driving the car today," said Massa. "It has been another constructive day, and I covered more laps than anyone else on the track. My only problem came on my last lap when I thought I detected a slight change in the engine's note. It was near to its limit on the mileage. I stopped out on the circuit just to be sure that I did not do any damage."

David Coulthard, quickest on the first day, was only fourth fastest today, with Arrows' Enrique Bernoldi posting the fifth quickest time with the second Bridgestone-shod cars. Japanese Takuma Sato continued testing for the Jordan team, finishing the day in sixth position.

Spaniard Marc Gene and Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia were again working for the Williams-BMW team, concentrating on tyre testing ahead of the British Grand Prix next week. Gene was the quickest of the two, with Pizzonia finishing at the bottom of the timesheets.

"We have been testing different tyre compounds for Silverstone," said Gene. "As scheduled, we changed the engine at mid-day. It seems that the problems we experienced at Nurburgring are being solved."

Irishman Eddie Irvine joined the test today, completing 90 laps with the Cosworth-powered R3. The Briton will have his first taste of the revised R3B chassis on Thursday.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Button Renault (M) 1:17.725 83 2. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:18.854 25 3. Massa Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:19.311 92 4. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:19.381 66 5. Bernoldi Arrows-Cosworth (B) 1:19.588 50 6. Sato Jordan-Honda (B) 1:19.668 56 7. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:19.790 90 8. Irvine Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:20.091 90 9. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 1:20.558 63 All Timing Unofficial

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