Barcelona Test: McLaren Ahead of Kimi

McLaren once again outpaced main rivals Ferrari on the second day of
this week’s official test at Barcelona in Spain on Tuesday, with Lewis
Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen topping the timesheets on a completely
dry day.

With the duo evaluating the latest developments to their MP4-23, the
fact that Hamilton was able to lap almost half a second faster than
third quickest Kimi Raikkonen will have provided a big confidence boost
to the team – irrespective of the influence of fuel loads.

McLaren concentrated on pitstop practice and qualifying simulation
in the morning, working on longer runs in the afternoon. Both drivers
stopped on track with fuel coupling issues, but the team said the
problems were quickly resolved.

Nico Rosberg showed once again that Williams could be one of the big
surprises of the year as he set the fourth fastest time, ahead of
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella in the Force India.

Sebastian Vettel showed a good dose of speed in his first run in the
Red Bull Racing RB4, as he filled in for the injured David Coulthard,
to set the seventh fastest time.

The team will make a decision tomorrow morning on whether Vettel
continues or Coulthard can return to action without the risk of
aggravating his neck injury.

Robert Kubica was eighth quickest, while Jenson Button finally
delivered some improved performance from the Honda Racing RA108 to end
up 10th overall.

Former world champion Fernando Alonso ended up a disappointing 13th
fastest, with Timo Glock at the bottom of the timesheets for Toyota.

Today’s times:

Pos  Driver        Team                      Time     Laps
 1.  Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:21.234   81
 2.  Kovalainen    McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:21.434   68
 3.  Raikkonen     Ferrari              (B)  1:21.722   72
 4.  Rosberg       Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:22.309   75
 5.  Massa         Ferrari              (B)  1:22.513  102
 6.  Fisichella    Force India-Ferrari  (B)  1:22.516  102
 7.  Vettel        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:22.558  109
 8.  Kubica        BMW-Sauber           (B)  1:22.625   94
 9.  Button        Honda                (B)  1:22.659   67
10.  Liuzzi        Force India-Ferrari  (B)  1:22.942   89
11.  Nakajima      Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:22.977  100
12.  Trulli        Toyota               (B)  1:23.023   98
13.  Alonso        Renault              (B)  1:23.112   77
14.  Barrichello   Honda                (B)  1:23.169   74
15.  Heidfeld      BMW-Sauber           (B)  1:23.284   77
16.  Bourdais      Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:23.323   98
17.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:23.458   58
18.  Piquet        Renault              (B)  1:23.467   45
19.  Glock         Toyota               (B)  1:23.561   80