When you support Scott Speed, you don't get many opportunities to crow. So I am sure you will forgive me if I use this opportunity to do just that. How about this then:
Times from Magny Cours, Second Practice
1 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:15.453
2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:15.488
3 Scott Speed Toro Rosso 1:15.773
I kid you not, it's true, I swear it. Scott third quickest of the day - don't suppose I'll get many chances to say that this season. So the only thing wrong with TR has been the drivers, hey? Tell that to Mr Bourdais and Mr Sutil (rumored today to be TR's drivers for 2008).
Scott Speed
What has been wrong with the TR has been the lack of a seamless shift gearbox, of course. This is the first race in which the team will be fielding their version of the new 'box and, on this showing, it works a treat. Liuzzi managed fifth fastest, by the way, perhaps evidence that both the TR drivers have been seriously under-rated until now.
It is also possible that Adrian Newey's chassis works better with a Ferrari engine than a Renault; Webber again had reliability problems in the Red Bull and could only manage 16th, while team mate Coulthard posted a respectable 6th.
The McLarens had a poor session by their standards, Hamilton in 4th and Alonso 8th. I am sure that there is much dialing-in to do yet and that the expected order will be restored tomorrow, but it does look as if Ferrari have made great strides with their recent improvements. The battle is not over yet, folks!
Anthony Davidson spent most of the day offering his nose to be wiped off by other cars but then put everything together to post ninth quickest time. Which is great for him and a well-deserved turn in fortune, but terrible for the Honda pair, who were so hopeful of getting ahead of last year's car this time - Button wound up 15th and Barrichello 18th. How the mighty are fallen...
Perhaps all those teams that expected to be up with the BMWs were right, however. The Beemers were strangely subdued, Kubica in 12th, Heidfeld 19th; perhaps their improvements since Indy have not been as effective as some of the other teams'. All the times are available on the Pitpass website, so I'll let you draw your own conclusions on the rest.
But let us not forget who was fastest behind the Ferraris on this day of days. That's my boy, Scott!
Times from Magny Cours, Second Practice
1 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:15.453
2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:15.488
3 Scott Speed Toro Rosso 1:15.773
I kid you not, it's true, I swear it. Scott third quickest of the day - don't suppose I'll get many chances to say that this season. So the only thing wrong with TR has been the drivers, hey? Tell that to Mr Bourdais and Mr Sutil (rumored today to be TR's drivers for 2008).
Scott Speed
What has been wrong with the TR has been the lack of a seamless shift gearbox, of course. This is the first race in which the team will be fielding their version of the new 'box and, on this showing, it works a treat. Liuzzi managed fifth fastest, by the way, perhaps evidence that both the TR drivers have been seriously under-rated until now.
It is also possible that Adrian Newey's chassis works better with a Ferrari engine than a Renault; Webber again had reliability problems in the Red Bull and could only manage 16th, while team mate Coulthard posted a respectable 6th.
The McLarens had a poor session by their standards, Hamilton in 4th and Alonso 8th. I am sure that there is much dialing-in to do yet and that the expected order will be restored tomorrow, but it does look as if Ferrari have made great strides with their recent improvements. The battle is not over yet, folks!
Anthony Davidson spent most of the day offering his nose to be wiped off by other cars but then put everything together to post ninth quickest time. Which is great for him and a well-deserved turn in fortune, but terrible for the Honda pair, who were so hopeful of getting ahead of last year's car this time - Button wound up 15th and Barrichello 18th. How the mighty are fallen...
Perhaps all those teams that expected to be up with the BMWs were right, however. The Beemers were strangely subdued, Kubica in 12th, Heidfeld 19th; perhaps their improvements since Indy have not been as effective as some of the other teams'. All the times are available on the Pitpass website, so I'll let you draw your own conclusions on the rest.
But let us not forget who was fastest behind the Ferraris on this day of days. That's my boy, Scott!