Sato Keeps Top Spot at Barcelona - Day Two

Japanese driver Takuma Sato finished on top of the times on the second day of testing at the Barcelona circuit, where the BAR driver lowered the Spanish track's record.

Sato, driving the hybrid Honda-powered 005 chassis, posted a quickest time of 1:13.797, lowering his teammate Jenson Button's time from yesterday. The Briton, the first man to lap the Spanish track in less than 74 seconds, was fifth fastest today as he continued working with the new 006 car from the Brackley-based squad.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso finished almost a whole second behind Sato in the new Renault R24. Renault's test driver Franck Montagny was also in action at the Spanish circuit, although the Frenchman drove last year's R23 car with this year's livery. He was sixth quickest.

"It was a good first day of testing," said Alonso at the end of the day. "The new car has confirmed my good first impressions from two weeks ago, and it behaved as expected when we worked through the chassis programme. The car is consistent on long runs, and I am happy with the progress we have made so far."

The Williams team worked with their new FW26, with Spaniard Marc Gene and German Ralf Schumacher again doing the driving. Gene was third fastest, just ahead of Schumacher.

Nelsinho Piquet, son of former three-time World Champion Nelson, returned to Formula One action following his debut with the Williams team at the end of last year. The 18-year old Brazilian worked at the wheel of the 2003-spec Williams FW25, completing 67 laps on his way to the 10th quickest time of the session.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello took over from Ferrari teammate Luca Badoer as the Italian squad continued testing with their F2003-GA car. Barrichello was seventh fastest.

Toyota drivers Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta kicked off the Japanese squad's test at Barcelona. Both men worked with the new TF104 chassis, with Panis finishing in eighth while da Matta posted the 11th quickest time of the day.

McLaren-Mercedes were again in action with three drivers at the wheel of the new MP4-19. Alexander Wurz was the quickest of the McLaren trio with the ninth fastest time. Finn Kimi Raikkonen, who joined the test today, was slowest.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was again in action for the Sauber team, conducting Bridgestone front tyre construction work as well as carrying out brake tests with the Petronas-powered C23. The Italian posted the 13th fastest lap of the session more than three seconds off the pace.

"Obviously, today we were not able to complete our scheduled programme," said Sauber's Jacky Eeckelaert. "After we ran some aerodynamic scans in the morning to check the car with different downforce levels we experienced a transmission problem which forced us to interrupt our test. Just before the end of the test day Giancarlo could go out for only a few laps again.

"As a consequence we will have to catch up tomorrow. Felipe will conduct the Bridgestone tyre programme which was originally planned for today. We will also test new cooling configurations for hot races and work with Bridgestone on tyre constructions."

Testing resumes tomorrow.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 1:13.797 76 2. Alonso Renault (M) 1:14.687 71 3. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:15.129 52 4. R.Schumacher Williams-BMW (M) 1:15.206 77 5. Button BAR-Honda (M) 1:15.462 26 6. Montagny Renault (M) 1:15.610 63 7. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:15.779 69 8. Panis Toyota (M) 1:15.992 79 9. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:16.069 83 10. Piquet Williams-BMW (M) 1:16.431 67 11. da Matta Toyota (M) 1:16.610 72 12. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:16.875 12 13. Fisichella Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:17.016 31 14. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:17.315 23 All Timing Unofficial

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