Formula One news
Kovalainen finishes Friday on top
05 June 2009 / Results / PhotosMcLaren's Heikki Kovalainen posted the fastest time in Istanbul's second practice session on Friday, heading the final classification by just six thousandths of a second from the Renault of Fernando Alonso. Robert Kubica's BMW finished an improved third with championship leader Jenson Button back in twelfth position for Brawn.
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| Kovalainen currently holds the fastest lap of the weekend |
Conditions remained very much the same as afternoon came in Istanbul, with ambient temperatures rising to highs of 28°C (82°F) with a gradual wind cooling the crowd. Kovalainen's eventual session-topping time was posted before the final half hour of the one and a half hour period, with the McLaren atop the timesheets courtesy of a 1.28.841 lap time, the fastest of the weekend so far. Team-mate Lewis Hamilton had a less productive afternoon on his way to 13th place with no less than three wild moments, the most dramatic coming with a large spin at Turn 1.
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| Sebastian Vettel's car ground to a halt during the session |
Fernando Alonso remained two tenths down on his 2008 McLaren replacement until the dying moments, when moving to within just six thousandths of a second of the Finn. Robert Kubica, making use of the BMW's first double-diffuser outing, was third with Kazuki Nakajima fourth for Williams.
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| Button could be facing his most challenging weekend of 2009 so far |
Sebastian Vettel wound up in the top five for Red Bull despite stopping on track during the session with a sudden loss of power, before rejoining later. As Trulli's Toyota made confirmed six different teams in as many places, Rosberg finished seventh with Rubens Barrichello the first championship-leading Brawn GP car in eighth spot. Mark Webber and Nelson Piquet rounded out the top ten.
Triple Turkish Grand Prix winning Felipe Massa made sure two Brazilians finished consecutively on the timesheets as championship leader Button experienced a difficult day in 12th place, ahead of compatriot Hamilton. Timo Glock's Toyota was 14th ahead Ferrari's second car with Kimi Räikkönen at the wheel, having complained of a lack of front-end grip.
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| Three-time winner Massa ended the day eleventh quickest |
Nick Heidfeld had hoped for more than just 15th position, ahead only of the Force India and Toro Rosso cars which completed the field. Sixth placed Trulli set the most laps of second practice, with 41 under the Italian's belt.
Third and final practice in Turkey comes before qualifying on Saturday, getting underway at 11am local time (GMT +2). You can join us then for our live report on a weekend which could see a number of drivers making inroads to Jenson Button's points advantage.
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