Jerez 2: Barrichello dominates
Rubens Barrichello scorched to the fastest time on the second day of testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain. The Ferrari driver was nearly 0.4s quicker than BAR-Honda's Jenson Button as he worked through an intensive Bridgestone tyre programme
Barrichello, the only Bridgestone runner on hand in the searing 39 degree heat, was quickest for most of the day. He admitted that although the Italian team is well ahead in both the drivers' and constructors' championships it is still working hard to improve the F2004's performance - particularly in light of the successful introduction of McLaren's new MP4/19B.
"We are flat out," said Barrichello. "We are just trying so hard to do as well as we can. I think we have done quite well so far... but the battle is still on.
"You never know. McLaren was strong in the last race. You never know who is going to be good in the next one. We have some new tyres for the next race at Hockenheim and I think we have made some more progress."
British BAR drivers Button and Anthony Davidson were next up. Button concentrated on a Michelin tyre programme while the team's test driver Davidson worked on set-up. Davidson's work was disrupted by a gearbox problem and finally a blown Honda engine before he switched to a long-term development chassis to work on future parts.
Renault's Franck Montagny was fourth quickest ahead of Antonio Pizzonia, the latest favourite to step in for Ralf Schumacher at Hockenheim. The Brazilian is said to be most likely to drive at the German Grand Prix after Eddie Jordan and Frank Williams reportedly failed to agree terms to allow Nick Heidfeld to drive the car.
Pedro de la Rosa and McLaren test team-mate Alexander Wurz were sixth and eighth fastest driving the old MP4/19As as they worked through tyre programmes in preparation for Hockenheim and Hungary. They were split by Ricardo Zonta's Toyota.
Jaguar's Christian Klien and Williams's Marc Gene rounded out the top ten ahead of Christiano da Matta who continued to run in the heavily-revised Toyota monocoque to be introduced at the German Grand Prix. Bjorn Wirdheim was 12th for Jaguar ahead of Heikki Kovaleinen on his first full test for Renault.
Rubens Barrichello Ferrari B 1m17.573s 99
Jenson Button BAR-Honda M 1m17.966s 114
Anthony Davidson BAR-Honda M 1m18.096s 44
Franck Montagny Renault M 1m18.103s 117
Antonio Pizzonia Williams-BMW M 1m18.280s 89
Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes M 1m18.393s 89
Ricardo Zonta Toyota M 1m18.758s 80
Alex Wurz McLaren-Mercedes M 1m18.787s 78
Christian Klien Jaguar M 1m19.112s 85
Marc Gene Williams-BMW M 1m19.190s 98
Cristiano da Matta Toyota M 1m19.218s 60
Bjorn Wirdheim Jaguar M 1m19.965s 83
Heikki Kovaleinen Renault M 1m20.437s
Anthony Davidson BAR-Honda* M 1m21.877s 8
*Long-term development car
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