Jerez Day 1 - Toyota 2nd and 3rd fastest

By Nick Sparkes
January 10 2006

Spain was the setting for the start of the 2006 Formula One Season, where the first day of testing got underway. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher started the new year well by going fastest in his V8 F2005. Whilst Toyota's Ricardo Zonta and Ralf Schumacher finished their first day second and third.

Both Toyota drivers continued to test their TF106, which didn't complete the day without one spin for Zonta and a technical problem for Ralf in the afternoon. But both drivers were able to drag their cars into the top three.

All eyes were on the new Renault R26, which in tha hands of Giancarlo Fisichella only completed 39 laps, none of them to challenge the top three. His team-mate Fernando Alonso running a V10 powered R25 was fourth, with the second Ferrari of Luca Badoer (also running a V10 engine) finished fifth.

Fisichella's new R26 was sxith, whilst Red Bull Racing's new RB2 complete with Ferrari V8 made a stab at the time sheets, but ran into technical problems during the day, with David Coulthard finishing seventh and last.

Testing continues tomorrow. 

1	M. Schumacher	Ferrari		01:18.020	82
2	R. Zonta	Toyota		01:19.348	66
3	R. Schumacher	Toyota		01:19.866	59
4	F. Alonso	Renault		01:19.929	61
5	L. Badoer	Ferrari		01:20.091	63
6	G. Fisichella	Renault		01:20.555	39
7	D. Coulthard	Red Bull		01:21.986	31