Webber Still Quickest, Gene Crashes

Williams driver Mark Webber set the pace for the second consecutive day in this week's testing session at the Jerez circuit.

Webber lapped slightly quicker than yesterday, although the conditions were cooler at the Spanish circuit, with temperatures close to 20 degrees Celsius. The Australian driver worked alongside Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia, who today took over from Nick Heidfeld.

Pizzonia, fighting with Heidfeld for the second seat at Williams, finished over a second behind Webber.

McLaren-Mercedes joined the Jerez test with both Kimi Raikkonen and Austrian Alex Wurz at the wheel of the MP4-19B, the Finn finishing the day as second quickest, right in front of Wurz and Renault's test driver Franck Montagny, fourth fastest on the day after a massive 135 laps.

Briton Jenson Button took over from Enrique Bernoldi at the wheel of one of the two BAR 2005 concept cars in action at Jerez. Button posted the fifth fastest time of the session, finishing ahead of compatriot Anthony Davidson, who had a busy day in the second BAR, covering 124 laps.

Ralf Schumacher completed his second day of work with Toyota's new car, which made his track debut yesterday. The German completed 69 laps with the TF105 and finished nearly two seconds behind Webber.

Spaniard Marc Gene got back to work with the Ferrari team, but the test driver had a poor return and was forced to call it a day earlier than planned after crashing heavily at the Angel Nieto corner.

Gene, who had also gone off track in the morning at the same corner, escaped injury but his car was too heavily damaged and Ferrari were forced to wait until tomorrow to resume with their work.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Webber Williams-BMW (M) 1:16.505 72 2. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:16.857 89 3. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:17.185 99 4. Montagny Renault (M) 1:17.464 135 5. Button BAR-Honda (M) 1:17.568 93 6. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 1:17.691 63 7. Davidson BAR-Honda (M) 1:17.705 124 8. R.Schumacher Toyota (M) 1:18.242 69 9. Gene Ferrari (B) 1:18.255 35 All Timing Unofficial

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