The tight mid-field pack saw Jenson Button 11th in his Honda ahead of Timo Glock who was another to explore the surrounding run off areas throughout the session. Understeer late in the session forced the Toyota driver wide and on returning to the circuit, the front wing caught the kerbing forcing a stop for repairs.

A rookie error from Giancarlo Fisichella this morning has earned the veteran Italian a three position penalty on the grid. Exiting the pits this morning Fisichella failed to notice that the session had yet to start as he drove through the red light and onto the circuit. This afternoon, Fisichella ran well and was 14th fastest while team-mate Adrian Sutil hit mechanical problems and completed just nine laps and was slowest of all.

Celebrating his record number of starts this weekend, Rubens Barrichello was 15th in the second Honda ahead of Piquet and the Toro Rosso duo of Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Bourdais.

Earl ALEXANDER
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