Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm opened up a 8.4 second lead over Carlos Sainz after day two of the Rally of Argentina. The Finn consolidated his position by finishing fastest in the final two superspecial stages at the packed Villa Carlos Paz circuit.
Sainz's Citroen team-mate, world championship leader Sebastien Loeb, lies in third place overall.
The day was marred by the retirements of Petter Solberg and Markko Martin, who was taken to hospital.
Martin went to hospital following a big crash on stage five while Solberg, the early leader, pulled out when his engine caught fire on the ninth stage.
Martin's Ford rolled after a jump during the journey from Villa Giardino to La Falda, landing on its roof.  |  I made a mistake and misjudged my speed before going into the water-splash flat out |
Both the Estonian and co-driver Michael Park escaped serious injury but were flown to hospital for precautionary checks.
Norwegian Solberg lost time when he drove too aggressively into a water-splash on the fifth stage.
"I made a mistake and misjudged my speed before going into the water-splash flat out," said the 2003 world champion, winner of the first, third and fourth stages.
"The engine seemed to drop to two cylinders and I couldn't see over the bonnet as it was so badly bent. I stopped for about 20 seconds and then continued."
Solberg was forced to retire four stages later when his Subaru's engine caught fire.
MMIX
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