Jerez 3: Sato pips Kimi

BAR-Honda's Sato might have been drained by the weather, but it certainly didn't show as he completed 79 laps in the 005 to set the fastest time of the day. The Japanese driver was only able to run in the morning session though after gearbox problems forced him out for the rest of the day.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen joined in the Spanish action for the first time today and was immediately on the pace in the new MP4-19B, which he tested at Silverstone prior to the Canadian Grand Prix. Once again the Finn was satisfied with his day's work and despite suffering from severe tiredness managed to complete 121 laps with the new machine.

"It's been good just confirming what I found out at Silverstone," he said. "It's reliable but I only came back from America yesterday and I'm really tired!"

Williams' Marc Gene continued the tyre testing that he conducted on Wednesday setting the third quickest time of the day ahead of BAR-Honda's Jenson Button. The Briton's day was hampered though with transmission problems and was only able to complete 42 laps.

McLaren's David Coulthard set the fifth quickest time using a different set-up to his team-mate while Antonio Pizzonia was sixth in the second Williams.

Cristiano da Matta was seventh quickest in the Toyota ahead of team test driver Ryan Briscoe, but the Brazilian struggled to test the Michelin tyres in the searing heat.

"I'm just so tired, not just physically but mentally. I need nine hours sleep to recover from the States," he said. "I tried the tyres in preparation for the French GP and I just hope it won't be so hot there."

Takuma Sato BAR-Honda M 1m17.439s 79
Kimi Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes* M 1m17.689s 121
Marc Gene Williams-BMW M 1m18.182s 86
Jenson Button BAR-Honda M 1m18.406s 42
David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes* M 1m18.473s 93
Antonio Pizzonia Williams-BMW M 1m18.855s 47
Cristiano da Matta Toyota M 1m19.098s 92
Ryan Briscoe Toyota M 1m19.716s 85

*Denotes MP4-19B