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Rosberg quickest in final practice session

NEWS STORY
18/04/2009

Ahead of today's free practice session, the air temperature is 22 degrees C, and the track temperature is 32 degrees. Once again, it is bright and sunny.

Following his problems yesterday, BMW have opted to remove the KERS systems from Robert Kubica's car. Furthermore, the team has chosen to give the Pole a new engine this weekend. Similarly, Lewis Hamilton has a new engine also.

Having run a 'traditional' diffuser yesterday, Heikki Kovalainen has the interim version today, though he has chose not to use the new front wing he ran with yesterday.

The good news for Renault fans is that the French team is running a new diffuser today, though on Alonso's car only, the new units having been shipped in overnight. On the other hand, the French outfit has removed the KERS devices from both its cars, meaning that only three drivers are running it this weekend.

When the lights go green, Glock leads the way, as fourteen cars go out for their installation lap. Unfortunately, Rosberg goes off at the entrance to the pitlane, just like Hamilton in 2007. As the marshal attempt to rescue the German, his car looks to be buried deep in the 'kitty litter'. "Nico, turn off your engine, it's overheating," a clearly exasperated crew man tells him over the radio.

To Rosberg's obvious relief, the marshals finally remove the car from the gravel and push the car back to the Williams garage using a service road through the back of the paddock.

Elsewhere, ten minutes into the session, all the cars having now completed an installation lap, Timo Glock is the first driver to go out for a second run. As the German begins his first flying lap, teammate Trulli heads down the pitlane.

Glock crosses the line at 1:40.733 to post the first time of the day, as Trulli begins his flying lap. The Italian posts 39.606 as his teammate improves to 39.857 and Massa begins a flying lap.

On his first flying lap, Massa goes quickest with a 38.549 as more and more cars pour on to the track.

As Massa improves with a 37.441, and Alonso fourth with a 40.032, Glock reports a gearbox problem. Next time around, Alonso improves to second with a 38.003.

Kubica, sans KERS, leaves the pits as Raikkonen goes fourth with a 38.707. Piquet goes sixth ahead of Nakajima, two driver who really need to raise their games.

A big lock-up for Vettel at Turn 14, but the Red Bull driver goes fourth nonetheless with a 38.279. Elsewhere, Fisichella heads off on to the grass.

A 37.723 sees Raikkonen go second, as Rosberg leaves the pits and Sutil follows his Force India teammate's example and runs wide.

As Hamilton goes third with a 37.858, all but Rosberg, Kovalainen and Button have posted times. Thirty-five minutes remaining.

Having just gone quickest with a 7.029, Raikkonen spins at the exit of Turn 3, as Barrichello improves to eighth with a 38.102.

Hamilton goes quickest in the first sector, posts a personal best in the second and finally crosses the line at 37.264 to go second. Elsewhere, Kovalainen begins his first flying lap of the day.

On his second flying lap, Button improves to fifth, as Vettel goes third behind Raikkonen and Hamilton. Having gone eighteenth on his first flying lap, Kovalainen improves to eighth next time around.

At half-distance, it's: Raikkonen, Hamilton, Rosberg, Webber, Button, Vettel, Massa, Kovalainen, Barrichello and Alonso. It is very, very busy out there.

Showing no signs of his earlier 'problem', Rosberg goes quickest with a 36.968, while Trulli improves to eighth. The Italian is the busiest driver thus far, having completed 11 laps.

With the circuit all to himself, Kovalainen improves to third with a 37.172. Elsewhere, the Toyota crew are working on Glock's gearbox which probably means the German will incur a five-place penalty this afternoon.

Massa, on a brand new set of hard tyres, goes quickest in the first sector, however, he eases off in the final sector. As Raikkonen takes top spot with a 36.921, Massa and Trulli are both on hot laps. Sure enough, the Brazilian goes quickest with a 36.806, however, moments later the Toyota driver goes even quicker, posting a 36.272. The Italian was on the super-softs.

With sixteen minutes remaining, the drivers begin their final preparations for qualifying.

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