Formula One news

Kovalainen fastest at Jerez

Fernando Alonso's replacement for 2007, Heikki Kovalainen, set the pace on the opening day of testing this week at Jerez in southern Spain. The Finnish driver was joined on track by five other drivers.

On a clear and sunny day at the circuit, Kovalainen and fellow Renault tester Jose Maria Lopez covered almost 200 laps between them including an intense tyre and brake testing programme. Lopez was third and will be replaced tomorrow at the wheel by Giancarlo Fisichella. Fernando Alonso is sitting this test out because of a bruised knee.

Honda also had a good day covering 204 laps between Anthony Davidson and Rubens Barrichello who were second and fourth fastest respectively. Behind them were the two Red Bulls with newly appointed race driver Robert Doornbos covering 111 laps and GP2 driver Michael Ammermuller given his chance to show his worth over the course of 102 laps. He was just 0.1s down on Doornbos at the end of the day.

There was only one stoppage today caused by Jose Maria Lopez when his Renault ground to a halt in the morning.

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