Back to Business in Barcelona 10/03/2009 Day 2 of testing in Barcelona is over with Raikkonen heading the time sheets for Ferrari and a shuffling of the order behind him. Toro Rosso ran into problems and their times are not significant but Nakajima showed that the Williams really was on heavy fuel runs yesterday - he threw in a lap good enough for second quickest today.Brawn and Brawn BGP 001The McLaren remains rooted near the bottom of the sheet in spite of an improvement this time out. The team ran with the new floor and wings so this may be a better indication of their true pace. If so, they have work to do before Melbourne!Barrichello confirmed the pace of the new Honda with third fastest time and Force India continued to look competitive, Adrian Sutil setting a time quicker than Alonso's best. Much depends on what each team was doing, as usual, but there are still hints that we are due for a very closely-fought season. I really wouldn't like to guess which team will occupy the last spots on the grid.Here are the times for the day:Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:01'20''314Kazuki Nakajima, Williams 00:01'20''907Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP 00:01'20''966Jarno Trulli, Toyota 00:01'21''182Mark Webber, Red Bull 00:01'21''347Nick Heidfeld, BMW-Sauber 00:01'21''815Adrian Sutil, Force India 00:01'21''834Fernando Alonso, Renault 00:01'21''937Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren 00:01'21''991Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso 00:01'23''039Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso 00:99'99''999
Clive
Becken Fernando Alonso, Renault …00:01'21''937Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren 00:01'21''991This is a nonexistent gap. I suppose that both Renault and McLaren are running theirs KERS system as they promised some days ago.For me, the KERS system is the key issue regarding McLaren´s pace! Date Added: 10/03/2009
Clive So KERS makes the cars slower? Why bother to run it then? It's not mandatory. Date Added: 10/03/2009
Timbo The key issue regarding McLaren's pace is that they haven't got any! I'd be extremely concerned if I was a Hamilton fan... Date Added: 10/03/2009
Speeder_76 Talking about KERS... some teams, like Brawn GP, told that they will not going to use KERS this season, or at least on the first GP's. About these testing... I don't usually talk about them, because their importance are relative for me, and the most important will be on the qualification afternoon on Melbourne. But I can say a few things: not watching McLaren on top, and with dificulties with the rear wing and the tires, shows that there is probelms to solve now, otherwise, it will be a difficult season for Lewis Hamilton...In other hand, watching Brawn GP making some good times, with Barrichello and Button at the wheel, shows that probably, this is an excellent chassis, and even with the trouble of changing it's design to accomdate a Mercedes engine, it didn't make a difference. I'm starting to wonder: what if Ross Brawn repeat the deed of Walter Wolf? I know that lightnings don't fall twice on the same place, but... Date Added: 10/03/2009
Clive Timbo: True. Norbert Haug is reported today to have admitted that they are having problems with the car. And Lewis has a go in Barcelona this time out so we shall see whether he can cope better than Heikki. Date Added: 11/03/2009
Clive Speeder: As time goes on it looks more and more as if Brawn GP have a really good car - Button is fastest again so far this morning. It would be great for F1 if the team were able to get a few wins this season. The established pecking order can become very boring after a while; and, with McLaren apparently having serious problems with the MP4-24, there's a good chance they won't be fighting at the front in the early races, at least. Date Added: 11/03/2009
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