Silverstone day 2: Rookie sets pace

Firman set a time of 42.372s to end the day quickest in his EJ13, ahead of Jaguar's Mark Webber who was shaking down the Milton Keynes-based team's third R4 chassis.

"It's the first time it has run," said Webber of his new chassis. "So we're just getting it ready for Albert Park - not really doing many miles but just trying to save it for Melbourne. This is really just a systems check."

Takuma Sato was third quickest for BAR, ahead of Renault test driver Allan McNish, who completed a mammoth 129 laps in a 2002 machine fitted with modified suspension. Jarno Trulli was next up in this year's car, ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella (Jordan) and Fernando Alonso (Renault).

Testing continues today (Thursday).

Ralph Firman Jordan-Ford B 42.372s 30
Mark Webber Jaguar-Cosworth M 42.395s 13
Takuma Sato BAR-Honda B 42.610s 18
Allan McNish Renault M 42.742s 128*
Jarno Trulli Renault M 43.552s 25
Giancarlo Fisichella Jordan-Ford B 43.951s 22
Fernando Alonso Renault M 44.477s 25

B = Bridgestone
M = Michelin
*denotes 2002 car