UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Prac 2.2: Trulli quick

Italian fastest in final practice run

Attempts to slow Formula One cars would appear to have had a minimal impact with the lap record at Sepang unofficially broken on Saturday morning.

Toyota’s Jarno Trulli was the man who did the damage demolishing Michael Schumacher’s 2004 pole time of 1:33.037 during the final session of practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The Italian topped the timesheets with an astonishing result of 1:32.832 to head home Red Bull’s Christian Klien in a surprise finish to the morning.

Renault’s Fernando Alonso was third fastest ahead of Toyota’s Ralf Schumacher and Red Bull’s David Coulthard.

PRACTICE SHORTS

* Trapped. Saturday’s second session was stopped when Giancarlo Fisichella beached his Renault in the gravel trap at turn 12.

The Italian span off the circuit and did some serious cosmetic damage to his R24, including the front wing being ripped off, causing the red flags to be waved.

But despite his absence for the remaining 25 minutes of the run, his time of 1:33.194 from the previous lap was enough to secure him sixth position.

* Inspection. Jenson Button never left the BAR garage during the second practice run.

Team engineers were forced to remove the Honda engine from his car for a closer inspection after problems at the end of Saturday’s first session.
The team are yet to confirm if the unit will be replaced.

* More trouble. Williams also appeared to have more trouble with Nick Heidfeld joining Jenson on the sidelines.

The team were plagued by brake and gearbox issues on Friday and there was more work being done on the FW27s this morning.

However, Heidfeld did manage to complete five laps at the end of the second session and finished eighth fastest.

Written: Sat, 19 Mar 2005 03:10:41