Wurz the best in Brazilian practice
Alex Wurz set the standard when practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix began at Interlagos today, signalling McLaren’s intent to cling on to their fading hopes of a world championship double.
McLaren number one Kimi Raikkonen is clinging on by a thread to his hopes of the world championship, with Renault’s Fernando Alonso only needing third place this weekend to claim the crown.
But McLaren have refused to concede defeat and arrived in Sao Paulo aiming for their first one-two for over five years.
Test driver Wurz showed they were serious by clocking a lap of one minute 11.701 seconds, over a second faster than his nearest challenger.
Takuma Sato responded to the news he is out of a drive for next season by setting the second fastest time today.
The Japanese driver’s hopes of a race seat at BAR-Honda were dashed when Jenson Button was able to buy his way out of a Williams deal to stay on at Brackley.
But Sato responded positively and set the fastest time for a race driver, beating Alonso’s Renault into third place.
Button looks set to make good on his promise to end the season on a high. The Englishman, benefiting from a revised car, set the fourth fastest time, relegating Raikkonen to fifth.
Giancarlo Fisichella was sixth fastest for Renault, who must mount a rearguard action to defend their six-point constructors’ championship lead in the face of McLaren’s expected superiority.
Juan Pablo Montoya ended the session seventh in the final McLaren, with Antonio Pizzonia showing well on home ground in his Williams.
Michael Schumacher continued to struggle and was down in 12th for Ferrari, one place clear of team-mate Rubens Barrichello, while David Coulthard’s Red Bull was 16th.
