Barcelona Test Day Two: Massa Returns Ferrari To The Top

The second day of testing was finalised earlier today with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa going fastest on the rain-soaked Circuit de Catalunya. Massa was partnering test driver Luca Badoer today as they worked on a revised aerodynamic package on the F2008. Massa did suffer a spin on the damp tarmac, but his new car escaped unscathed and the Brazilian was able to complete 46 laps, with Badoer making 33 passes on the start/finish line.

It was a Red Bull sandwich at the end of the day with Massa and Badoer surrounding Mark Webber who finished his day in second. Webber’s competitive time was compounded by team mate David Coulthard who ended up third just 0.4s shy of the Australian. Also taking part today despite the weather was Renault, running both 2008 drivers with Fernando Alonso winding up fifth after 28 laps. Nelson Piquet Jr only completed an installation in the R28 and therefore didn’t set a lap time.

Williams fielded three drivers today, both racers and albeit briefly, test driver Nico Hulkenberg. Nico Rosberg took advantage of the poor weather to practice pit stops, completing 20 during the day and also setting the sixth fastest lap. Kazuki Nakajima also went out in the new FW30 but only managed tenth fastest. Although Kazuki also practiced pitstops ahead of the new season start in March. Nico Hulkenberg shook down a newly constructed chassis as thus only completed one lap.

The biggest moment of the day fell on Timo Glock’s shoulders as the German brushed the barriers at the first corner and spun off. The red flag was shown but his Toyota was largely undamaged. Timo exclaimed that the morning’s running was disappointing as it was essentially useless, but the afternoon running proved more productive with Glock running heavy wet and standard wet tyres.

McLaren once again chose no to run, deeming the weather too poor for to gain anything from and instead deciding to save their mileage.

BMW were testing at Valencia as well, proving to be a wiser move than those at Barcelona. Although the circuit was wet in the morning it did dry out during the day, unlike Circuit de Catalunya which remained damp throughout the afternoon. The number of laps speak for themselves in comparison as Nick Heidfeld completed 136 laps and Robert Kubica 121. Kubica outpaced Heidfeld by 0.7s but of course the times are relatively meaningless as there was no control or comparison. BMW will continue tomorrow.