Montoya Sets the Pace at Jerez
Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya set the pace on the second day of testing at the Jerez circuit, where high temperatures and several reds flags hit today's session

McLaren driver Montoya focussed on engine work and tyre testing ahead of the German Grand Prix next week, posting a best time of 1:16.295 to finish well ahead at the top of the times.
Montoya worked alongside Alexander Wurz, who had to replace Kimi Raikkonen after the Finn canceled his test as he felt unwell due to food poisoning.
Wurz, who caused one of the red flags, finished as fourth quickest as he worked mainly on Michelin tyre testing.
BAR-Honda's Takuma Sato was second quickest nearly half a second behind Montoya on a day where track temperatures reached well over 40 degrees. Sato did most of his work with his regular car, but the Japanese driver also tested an hybrid machine fitted with electronics to be used in the 2006 BAR.
Sato covered 11 laps with the hybrid car, while teammate Jenson Button completed 46 as BAR continued working on a revised aerodynamic package that they plan to introduce at the German Grand Prix.
Button, however, has not been very happy with the performance of the new package and BAR spent the day trying different configurations.
Brazilian Felipe Massa finished third on the timesheets despite his running being cut short after a heavy accident in the morning. The Sauber driver lost control of his car at turn five and crashed heavily against the barriers.
Massa, who had already spun moments earlier, was uninjured but Sauber were forced to spend the rest of the day working to repair the car so Jacques Villeneuve can complete the test tomorrow.
"Felipe unfortunately experienced a rear left rim failure caused by a foreign object trapped inside the suspension components," said test engineer Paul Russell. "He went off track at the entry of turn five and damaged the car in such a way that it was not possible to go on with the test today.
"It's really a shame, but it's more important that Felipe is okay. We will rebuild the car and have it ready tomorrow morning for Jacques to concentrate on the major development programme items."
Renault drivers Franck Montagny and Giancarlo Fisichella were again in charge of testing duties for the French squad, who were happy with their day despite their tyre testing programme being hindered by the many red flags.
"We had a very good day with Giancarlo, who achieved more than we had hoped this morning," said Renault's chief test engineer Christian Silk. "His work on suspension development brought us useful data, and he also looked at some set-up items for the coming races.
"Most of all, he was able to take full advantage of excellent reliability on his car. Franck suffered some problems during the afternoon, but had an effective morning working on tyre choice for the races ahead."
The Toyota team worked with both Ralf Schumacher, driving this year's car, and Olivier Panis, who continued at the wheel of the car fitted with next year's V8 engine.
The Frenchman had another poor day with the 2.4-litre unit and covered just 12 laps after the engine went in a big cloud of smoke before the lunch break.
Toyota will continue running with their V8 tomorrow, something Williams will not be able to do after losing both their BMW V8 engines in yesterday's and today's sessions.
Brazilian test driver Antonio Pizzonia covered just 22 laps before the engine failed and, with BMW not having parts to repair it, Williams will run with one car tomorrow.
Test driver Nico Rosberg was still feeling unwell and did not take to the track.
All the teams stopped working at 1pm local time to observe two minute's silence as a mark of respect for the victims of the London bombings.
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:16.295 87 2. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 1:16.764 88 3. Massa Sauber-Petronas (M) 1:16.835 37 4. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:16.913 107 5. Montagny Renault (M) 1:17.102 83 6. R.Schumacher Toyota (M) 1:17.129 85 7. Button BAR-Honda (M) 1:17.544 46 8. Fisichella Renault (M) 1:17.664 137 9. Zonta Toyota (M) 1:18.210 124 10. Coulthard Red Bull-Cosworth (M) 1:18.231 117 11. Klien Red Bull-Cosworth (M) 1:18.596 61 12. Heidfeld Williams-BMW (M) 1:18.841 72 13. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 1:21.836 22 14. Panis Toyota (M) 1:23.769 12 All Timing Unofficial
Latest news
The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title
After two terrifying crashes, one of the best British racers of the 1950s retired before his career peaked. But that’s why GP Racing’s MAURICE HAMILTON was able to speak to Tony Brooks in 2014. Like his friend Stirling Moss, Brooks was regarded as one of the best drivers never to have won the world championship. Here, as our tribute to Brooks who died last month, is that interview in full
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further
Does Verstappen have any weaknesses left?
Having extended his Formula 1 points lead with victory in Canada, Max Verstappen has raised his game further following his 2021 title triumph. Even on the days where Red Bull appears to be second best to Ferrari, Verstappen is getting the most out of the car in each race. So, does he have any weaknesses that his title rivals can exploit?
How F1's future fuels can shape the automotive sector
In 2026, Formula 1 plans to make the switch to a fully sustainable fuel, as the greater automotive world considers its own alternative propulsion methods. Biogasoline and e-fuels both have merit as 'drop-in' fuels but, equally, both have their shortcomings...
The breakthrough behind Sainz’s best weekend of F1 2022 so far
OPINION: Carlos Sainz came close to winning in Monaco but needed that race’s specific circumstances for his shot at a maiden Formula 1 victory to appear. Last weekend in Canada, he led the line for Ferrari in Charles Leclerc’s absence from the front. And there’s a key reason why Sainz has turned his 2022 form around
Canadian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Plenty of high scores but just a single perfect 10 from the first Montreal race in three years, as Max Verstappen fended off late pressure from Carlos Sainz. Here’s Autosport’s assessment on the Formula 1 drivers from the Canadian Grand Prix