 Alonso leads the drivers' standings by 18 points from Jarno Trulli |
Championship leader Fernando Alonso was fastest in the second free practice session on Thursday ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. The Spanish Renault driver clocked one minute 15.835 around the famous street circuit to edge out McLaren test driver Alexander Wurz by 0.077 seconds.
Briton David Coulthard was third in 1:16.184 with Italy's Giancarlo Fisichella fourth in 1:16.519.
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was 11th with team-mate Rubens Barrichello 15th.
McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya, who was fastest in Thursday's first free practice in 1:17.152, could only finish fifth in the second session in 1:16.534.
His Finnish team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, who won the Spanish Grand Prix to go third in the standings, was sixth.
Italy's Jarno Trulli, second in the drivers' standings, was 13th after an uninspiring lap of 1:19.255.
World champion Schumacher will spend Friday's traditional rest day seeking a solution to a mystery handling problem.
The German, desperate for a strong showing in Sunday's race after a poor start to the season, said: "We don't know what was wrong. There was a vibration but we don't know why.
"We have to analyse and control everything in detail and find the problem.
"For me it is hard to judge how competitive we are because the whole second session was handicapped by this vibration."
Coulthard, the surprise of the afternoon session, said: "Obviously these practice sessions are the first stage of a long weekend but things feel good."
Qualifying gets under way at 1200 BST on Saturday, and 0900 the following day, with the race due to start at 1300.
Results from Thursday's second practice:
1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1min 15.835sec
2. Alexander Wurz (Aut) McLaren-Mercedes 1:15.912
3. David Coulthard (Gbr) Red Bull 1:16.184
4. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:16.519
5. Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) McLaren-Mercedes 1:16.534
6. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:16.558
7. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Red Bull 1:16.640
8. Felipe Massa (Bra) Sauber-Petronas 1:16.914
9. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:16.917
10. Ricardo Zonta (Bra) Toyota 1:17.046
Results from first practice:
1. Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) McLaren-Mercedes 1:17.152
2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:17.301
3. Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull 1:17.511
4. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1:17.640
5. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:17.869
6. Alexander Wurz (Aut) McLaren-Mercedes 1:18.059
7. Mark Webber (Aus) Williams-BMW 1:18.244
8. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:18.482
9. David Coulthard (Gbr) Red Bull 1:18.669
10. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari 1:18.838
MMIX
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