Panis Fastest in Barcelona Testing (Morning Session)

Frenchman Olivier Panis set the fastest time during the morning session on the first day of testing at the Barcelona circuit in Spain, where all the Bridgestone users began a three-day session.

Under sunny and warm weather conditions, the BAR driver topped the timesheets with a best lap of 1:20.622 in front of David Coulthard in the first of the McLarens.

The Scot, who had initially set the pace, saw his time improved fractionally by Panis mid-morning.

German Nick Heidfeld was third fastest with the Sauber, in front of Pedro de la Rosa in the only Arrows present at the Catalan circuit.

Jordan drivers Jarno Trulli and Heinz-Harald Frentzen were fifth and sixth respectively, the Italian suffering a mechanical failure that reduced his running time.

New Sauber driver Kimi Raikkonen was ninth quickest. The young Finn spun off the track and hit the tyre barriers, forcing the marshals to stop the session until his car was removed.

BAR's test driver Darren Manning shared the second car with Brit Mark Hynes, who made his Formula One debut with the Brackley-based team, setting the slowest time of the morning some seven seconds off the pace.

Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer, who completed very few laps during the session, was tenth fastest.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time 1. Panis BAR-Honda (B) 1:20.622 2. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:20.675 3. Heidfeld Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:21.247 4. De la Rosa Arrows-AMT (B) 1:21.285 5. Trulli Jordan-Honda (B) 1:21.296 6. Frentzen Jordan-Honda (B) 1:21.417 7. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:21.711 8. Raikkonen Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:22.886 9. Manning BAR-Honda (B) 1:23.359 10. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:24.192 11. Hynes BAR-Honda (B) 1:27.103 All Timing Unofficial