Irvine: hard work in store for Jag

But despite the performance, lead driver Eddie Irvine is urging caution and says there's a lot more work to be done if the team is to take another top six finish this weekend.

"The lap times look impressive but I think we're in for a hard weekend at this circuit," said Irvine, who ended the day in seventh, just hundredths behind Michael Schumacher. "The car felt much better during the second session, albeit with some brake issues which we are examining. Qualifying well is so important at Suzuka because of the overtaking difficulties and from looking at today's lap times, I think our group is going to be very tight indeed."

Pedro de la Rosa is in need of a strong showing after failing to finish in the top six so far this year. He was just behind Irvine in eighth, a position he hopes to maintain in qualifying.

"I am satisfied with today's performance," he admitted. "The track will undoubtedly be very different tomorrow and it is difficult to predict our qualifying position. Outside of the top three teams, the group seems very closely bunched-up and I think we're in for a very tight qualifying hour tomorrow."