Sato Pips Raikkonen at Jerez - Day Three

Japanese driver Takuma Sato set the pace in testing at the Jerez circuit, where four Formula One teams were in action for the third consecutive day.

Sato, in the BAR-Honda 006, finished on top of the times with a quickest lap of 1:17.439 as he concentrated mainly on tyre testing ahead of the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours. The Japanese star was joined today by British teammate Jenson Button, who took over from test driver Anthony Davidson at the wheel of the second Honda-powered car.

Button finished as fourth quickest behind McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen and Williams tester Marc Gene. The Finn and Scot teammate David Coulthard joined the test, replacing the team's test drivers, as the Woking-based outfit continued putting miles in their MP4-19B, the car they aim to use in France next month.

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia was fifth fastest in the second Williams, finishing ahead of the two Toyotas on track today. Cristiano da Matta took over from Brazilian Ricardo Zonta, while Australian Ryan Briscoe began testing in the second TF104 car.

The Jerez test concludes tomorrow.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 1:17.439 79 2. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:17.689 121 3. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:18.182 86 4. Button BAR-Honda (M) 1:18.406 42 5. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:18.473 93 6. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 1:18.855 74 7. da Matta Toyota (M) 1:19.098 92 8. Briscoe Toyota (M) 1:19.716 85 All Timing Unofficial

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