Kovalainen leads the way at Barcelona

Only Midland were absent from today's session.

Kovalainen and teammate Fernando Alonso kicked off the French team's test at the Spanish track, the Finn enjoying a productive day to cover a total of 144 laps, the most by any driver today.

Alonso's day, however, was not as trouble-free, the Spaniard stopping on track with an apparent mechanical problem. The world champion managed just 45 laps, although he was still third quickest, three tenths behind Kovalainen.

The Renault drivers were split by Honda's Rubens Barrichello, who tested a new front wing and revised sidepods, completing over 100 laps on his way to the second fastest time of the day.

Barrichello worked alongside teammate Anthony Davidson, who focused on set-up work and finished fourth despite stopping on track with a gearbox problem.

Toyota's Ricardo Zonta was fifth fastest as he concentrated on fine-tuning the set-up in the morning and on a tyre programme in the afternoon.

The Brazilian finished ahead of Red Bull's David Coulthard, who also had a productive day, completing more than a Grand Prix distance. The Scot caused one of a total of nine red flags, when he spun late in the day.

The Williams team were again hindered by engine problems, both Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg stopping on track with problem in their Cosworth units.

McLaren, for the first time this year, had two MP4-21 cars in action at the same track in testing, with Pedro de la Rosa being joined by Kimi Raikkonen.

De la Rosa carried out engine work and finished as ninth fastest, while Raikkonen was down in 13th after just 31 laps. The Finn only started driving at 2:30pm.

Brazilian Felipe Massa joined Ferrari teammate Marc Gene as Ferrari continued with their preparations for their home Grand Prix at Imola. Massa, who caused one red flag when he ran out of fuel, worked on set-up, trying out a new set of shock absorbers, and also carried out tyre testing.

Gene, 16th fastest, focused on engine reliability, doing longs runs during the day.

BMW worked with both Nick Heidfeld and test driver Robert Kubica, the German, who did tyre testing for Michelin, outpacing his teammate by less than a tenth.

The Toro Rosso and Super Aguri teams had one driver each on track, as both concentrated on set-up work for the San Marino Grand Prix.

The red flags of the day were caused by Webber, Massa, Rosberg, Alonso, de la Rosa, Kubica, Gene, Davidson and Coulthard.

Today's times:

Pos   Driver        Team                      Time     Laps
  1.  Kovalainen    Renault              (M)  1:14.955  144
  2.  Barrichello   Honda                (M)  1:15.135  107
  3.  Alonso        Renault              (M)  1:15.251   45
  4.  Davidson      Honda                (M)  1:15.354  112
  5.  Zonta         Toyota               (B)  1:15.426   88
  6.  Coulthard     Red Bull-Ferrari     (M)  1:15.671   97
  7.  Webber        Williams-Cosworth    (B)  1:15.683   82
  8.  Klien         Red Bull-Ferrari     (M)  1:15.747   84
  9.  de la Rosa    McLaren-Mercedes     (M)  1:15.781   74
 10.  Massa         Ferrari              (B)  1:15.860  108
 11.  Heidfeld      BMW-Sauber           (M)  1:15.917   75
 12.  Rosberg       Williams-Cosworth    (B)  1:15.955   54
 13.  Raikkonen     McLaren-Mercedes     (M)  1:15.957   31
 14.  Kubica        BMW-Sauber           (M)  1:15.974   93
 15.  Liuzzi        Toro Rosso-Cosworth  (M)  1:16.389  107
 16.  Gene          Ferrari              (B)  1:16.446  115
 17.  Panis         Toyota               (B)  1:16.812   71
 18.  Sato          Super Aguri-Honda    (B)  1:19.328   76

All Timing Unofficial