APRIL 7, 2005

BAR surprises in Spain

Jenson Button and Takuma Sato set the surprise pace on the third day of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona with Button lapping in 1m14.237s and Takuma a 1m14.247s. The BAR-Hondas were also very reliable with the two men completing more than 200 laps between them. Toyota's Jarno Trulli was third fastest ahead of McLaren test driver Alex Wurz and Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari.

World Championship leader Fernando Alonso was sixth fastest in the leading Renault while team mate Giancarlo Fisichella crashed and the finished up ninth overall.

There was controversy at Sauber where Felipe Massa was testing in place of Jacques Villeneuve. It had been planned that Villeneuve would do the work.