10/07/2004
NEWS STORY
As the lights turn green, to mark the beginning of today's second free-practice session, the ambient temperature is 17 degrees, while the track temperature has risen to 23 degrees.
Zsolt Baumgartner is first out, both Minardi drivers having sat-out the first session following the news that the team's sporting director John Walton, died late last night, following a massive heart attack on Tuesday morning.
The Hungarian is joined on track by his Italian teammate, the fans applaud the duo, is respect for Walton and indeed the Italian team.
Mark Webber, who made his F1 debut with Minardi, and worked with Walton, is also on track.
The Australian posts the benchmark, crossing the line at 1:22.161, moments later, his Austrian teammate goes quicker with a 1:21.437.
Having completed only a couple of laps in the first session, Kimi Raikkonen is eager to get back on track, and proves that his earlier performance was no 'flash in the pan' by posting a 1:20.311 then a 1:19.752.
Meanwhile Alonso goes second and Fisichella fourth, as Panis slots into sixth place.
Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector but then returns to the pits, as Alonso improves with a 1:20.685 and Fisichella improves to third.
Trulli goes fifth with a 1:21.460, as Coulthard goes ninth, Jenson Button posts a 1:21.255 to go fourth.
However, all eyes are on Michael Schumacher who goes quickest in the first sector. He loses time in the second sector, but still manages to cross the line at 1:19.929, to go second, 0.177s off the pace.
Next time around he again goes quickest in the first sector, as Barrichello goes fourth with a 1:20.576. Unable to maintain the pace in the second sector (again), the German returns to his garage.
Elsewhere, Montoya goes twelfth, as teammate Gene goes seventh, and Gene improves to third. Next time around, The Brazilian goes quickest in the second sector - precisely where Schumacher is losing time - going on to cross the line at 1:19.484 and go quickest.
It's Barrichello ahead of Raikkonen, Michael, Button, Trulli, Alonso, Gene, Fisichella, Sato and Klien.
Montoya improves to seventh with a 1:20.724, however next time around he goes quickest in the first sector. The Colombian loses time in the second sector, and like Schumacher returns to his garage. Meanwhile, Alonso goes quickest in the first sector. The Spaniard maintains the momentum in the second sector and again in the third, crossing the line at 1:19.169, beating Barrichello's time by 0.315s.
Teammate Jarno Trulli is on a hot lap, the Italian going quickest in the (magical) second sector, and again in the third. The Renault driver posts 1;19.171 to go second, as Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector.
It's action, action, action.. as Michael Schumacher goes quickest in sector one, and Raikkonen crosses the line at 1:18.280, beating Alonso's previous best by 0.889s.
Schumacher loses it in the second sector, he spins off, his session clearly over. Moments later however, the German somehow gets his car going again, and returns to his garage. They say 'the luck of the Irish', but what about this guy?
Raikkonen remains quickest, ahead of Alonso, Trulli, Coulthard, Barrichello, Schumacher, Button, Webber, Montoya and Gene.
With just over fifteen minutes remaining, we reach one of the lulls that we've come to expect during Saturday sessions, the proverbial 'calm before the storm'. The drivers have less than a quarter-of-an-hour to find the ideal set-up for qualifying.
Felipe Massa is the only driver that hasn't posted a time in this session, he finally exits the Sauber garage. There are only a few drivers on track - da Matta, Webber, Heidfeld, Gene, Pantano and Massa. The Brazilian goes ninth with a 1:20.285.
From (seemingly) out of nowhere, Gene produces a 1:18.832, to go second.
Meanwhile, Webber has completed the most laps (20), but remains twelfth.
The WilliamsF1s appear to have found some pace, Montoya goes third with a 1:18.912.
As Coulthard appears to begin what looks like a fast lap, Gianmaria Bruni stops in the first sector, bringing out the yellow flags.
Schumacher is back on track and immediately goes quickest in the first sector, but loses a heap of time in the second. He's got a couple more laps in which to improve.
Button goes second with a 1:18.414, as Schumacher improves (slightly) and Barrichello goes quickest in the first sector. The Brazilian goes third with a 1:18.623 as his teammate, probably frustrated, returns to his garage.
The session end with Raikkonen quickest, for the third session in a row, ahead of Button, Barrichello, Trulli, Gene, Montoya, Coulthard, Michael, Alonso and Fisichella.
da Matta finished eleventh quickest, ahead of Massa, Webber, Panis, Heidfeld, Sato, Klien, Baumgartner, Pantano and Bruni.
The McLarens are back, and how, but the WilliamsF1s clearly have the pace, while the Renaults and BARs are also looking good. Then of course, there are the Ferraris.
Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill always said that the partisan crowd gave them a special boost here, adding those precious extra RPM and MPH, will it work today for Button and Coulthard? Can a Briton take pole on home soil?
All will be revealed soon enough.