Kubica fastest on Friday
BMW’s Robert Kubica has finished just ahead of Fernando Alonso in this afternoon’s practice session. After setting the fastest time this morning, the test driver managed it again in the heavily modified BMW Sauber car. As expected, Renault are back in top form in 2nd and 5th place, while Friday drivers Davidson and Wurz are third and fourth respectively.
As the clocks struck two it was go time for the second practice session of the 2006 French Grand Prix, and despite the temperatures at the track still hitting 51 degrees, a plethora of drivers ventured out in the opening minutes.
It was Anthony Davidson who made the first impression, going top on a 1:19.261 with Robert Doornbos second on a 1:19.780. Adrian Sutil was third for Midland, just a tenth off Doornbos.
A few minutes later and it was Michael Schumacher who was the driver to watch, setting all three sectors purple to go top with a 1:17.938, almost a second faster than the Swiss. With half an hour in the session remaining, Schumacher topped the times with Jani second, Fisichella third, Massa fourth, Trulli fifth and Barrichello sixth.
Moments later, Fernando flew to the top of the sheets with his first flyers, setting the new benchmark at 1:17.498, with Giancarlo just behind him in second on a 1:17.916.
With just 20 minutes of the session remaining, the track was a hive of activity, with only Mark Webber yet to set a lap in his Williams. Barrichello was dropping down the order after his off had put him out of the session but his time of 1:19.259 kept him in the top ten… for now. At the tail end, local hero Franck Montagny could not quite repeat his morning performances, sitting at the base of the table, almost a second off his vastly less experienced new team-mate Sakon Yamamoto.
Scott Speed flew off and backwards into the barriers bringing out the yellow flags with 18 minutes left, the Toro Rosso driver pushing just that touch too hard after his early exit last time out in America.
With ten minutes remaining, Fernando was toppled from top spot by the ever-speedy Robert Kubica with a 1:17.395 as Alex Wurz went third with a 1:17.859. Kubica went faster still with five minutes left to take a 1:16.902, almost six tenths of a second ahead of Fernando in second place.
The results are as follows:
1 R. Kubica BMW 1:16.902 33
2 F. Alonso Renault 1:17.498 14
3 A. Davidson Honda 1:17.750 37
4 A. Wurz Williams 1:17.859 29
5 G. Fisichella Renault 1:17.916 13
6 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:17.938 16
7 A. Sutil Midland F1 1:18.049 31
8 R. Doornbos Red Bull 1:18.175 28
9 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:18.274 21
10 N. Jani Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:18.639 32
11 J. Trulli Toyota 1:18.721 23
12 J. Button Honda 1:19.005 18
13 F. Massa Ferrari 1:19.013 20
14 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:19.108 15
15 K. Räikkönen McLaren 1:19.140 9
16 C. Albers Midland F1 1:19.183 21
17 R. Barrichello Honda 1:19.259 5
18 M. Webber Williams 1:19.413 10
19 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:19.589 14
20 N. Rosberg Williams 1:19.692 19
21 T. Monteiro Midland F1 1:19.701 19
22 P. de la Rosa McLaren 1:19.809 14
23 T. Sato Super Aguri 1:19.996 22
24 S. Speed Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:20.003 12
25 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:20.135 12
26 J. Villeneuve BMW 1:20.154 11
27 C. Klien Red Bull 1:20.409 14
28 F. Montagny Super Aguri 1:21.132 14
29 S. Yamamoto Super Aguri 1:21.969 32
