Coulthard Fastest at Wet Barcelona

McLaren driver David Coulthard posted the quickest time on the second day of testing at the Barcelona circuit, where the teams' progress was hampered by the poor weather.

After a bright first day of work yesterday, the Spanish track was hit by the rain today and all nine drivers present were forced to run in the wet, as the circuit never dried up during the session.

Scot Coulthard, working with the new McLaren MP4-19, was the fastest man with a time of 1:28.114, more than 10 seconds off the pace set yesterday by Frenchman Franck Montagny. The Renault test driver, who suffered some mechanical problems during the day, was second quickest more than eight tenths behind Coulthard.

Montagny was the fastest of the three drivers testing for Renault today. Argentinean Jose Maria Lopez, who made his Formula One debut on Tuesday, continued testing for the French squad as they assess young talents. Lopez was joined by Heikki Kovalainen.

The 22-year old Finn, who finished as runner-up in this year's World Series by Nissan championship, took to the wheel of a Formula One car for the first time today. Kovalainen could only complete eight laps in the tricky conditions and posted the seventh quickest time ahead of Lopez.

The Jaguar team continued working with their two drivers at Barcelona, with Australian Mark Webber setting the fourth quickest time of the day with the R4 car. His new teammate Christian Klien, who was the busiest man on track with 94 laps, was sixth quickest on his first day of testing with an F1 car in the wet.

Toyota drivers Ryan Briscoe and Ricardo Zonta were again in action for the Japanese squad, the Australian finishing as fifth quickest while Zonta was slowest after only 19 laps.

Testing at Barcelona resumes tomorrow.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:28.114 38 2. Montagny Renault (M) 1:28.937 33 3. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:29.510 89 4. Webber Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:30.848 66 5. Briscoe Toyota (M) 1:31.008 78 6. Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:32.231 94 7. Kovalainen Renault (M) 1:32.416 8 8. Lopez Renault (M) 1:32.736 14 9. Zonta Toyota (M) 1:33.492 19 All Timing Unofficial

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