Raikkonen Quickest at Short Silverstone - Day One

Finn Kimi Raikkonen posted the quickest time on the first day of testing at the short version of the Silverstone circuit, where the McLaren and Renault teams began their final test before the Australian Grand Prix.

Raikkonen, continuing with the development of the MP4-17D chassis, was nearly a whole second faster than Italian Jarno Trulli in the Renault R23. Trulli shook down the two chassis the French squad will take to the season opening race, while test driver Allan McNish drove the old R202.

"We started our shakedown for the Australian Grand Prix," explained Renault's technical director Mike Gascoyne. "Jarno completed some long runs for final reliability checks as well as the shake-down of one of the Melbourne chassis.

"Allan worked also on further suspension evaluation in the R202. Overall we had a useful day of testing. Tomorrow we will continue to shakedown the rest of the Melbourne chassis, conducting some suspension work."

Scot David Coulthard finished as third quickest in the second McLaren.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 41.728 28 2. Trulli Renault (M) 42.679 110 3. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 42.883 15 4. McNish Renault (M) 43.018 129 All Timing Unofficial

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