Button Turns Up the Heat on Schumacher

BAR's Jenson Button turned the heat on Michael Schumacher on Friday as Ferrari's World Champion geared up to equal Formula One's best start to a season at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Button stood out after blitzing the field in the afternoon's second session to increase his hopes of a fourth podium in a row. Button was the only other driver to lap in under one minute 16 seconds and his time of 1:15.935 came in an afternoon punctuated by occasional light rain.

The BAR driver, who started the last San Marino Grand Prix on pole position and finished second, was pleased with his day's work.

"Today has gone quite well and I'm pleased to be at the top of the timesheets at the end of the day," said Button at the end of the day. "The grip has been quite low but I'm happy with the balance of the car.

"There will be more to come as the track gets better and generally it looks like this is going to be another positive weekend for us."

British test driver Anthony Davidson completed an excellent session for BAR by posting the second fastest time of the day. Japanese Takuma Sato, meanwhile, was hit by a clutch problem and could only complete four laps in the second session.

Sato finished down in 18th position.

"It's very disappointing to end the day early with a mechanical problem," said Sato. "I have completed only four timed laps from a total of 10 laps all day and this means we haven't completed all the set-up and tyre work that prepares us for tomorrow's qualifying.

"I have to hope that I can have two very productive sessions tomorrow morning in readiness for qualifying so we have some work to do this evening to ensure that happens."