Button stays ahead at Paul Ricard

For the second day in a row Jenson Button topped the test times at Paul Ricard, the BAR driver clocking a best of 1:06.301 and setting a new lap record. Button racked up 150 laps of the high-tech test facility, working on aerodynamic and technical developments and also a new Honda engine for Imola. Teammate Takuma Sato replaces Button tomorrow.

McLaren stayed near the top of the times, Kimi Raikkonen second fastest and David Coulthard fourth on the time sheet. Both drivers were happy with developments and the amount of mileage accumulated while they worked on aerodynamics and suspension. Testers Alex Wurz and Pedro de la Rosa are scheduled to take over tomorrow.

Antonio Pizzonia was the sole Williams on track, third, taking over from fellow tester Marc Gené. Pizzonia continued with set up and tyre development, focusing on distance runs and accumulated 110 laps. Juan Pablo Montoya joins the test tomorrow.

The Renault duo of Fernando Alonso and test driver Franck Montagny repeated yesterday's positions in fifth and sixth respectively. Both worked on distance and performance tyre tests and Alonso exceeded a weekend mileage, 800km, with the new RS24 engine.

Toyota's Olivier Panis took over from teammate Cristiano da Matta to join tester Ryan Briscoe, the pair seventh and eighth. Jaguar's Christian Klien rounded off the times in ninth, continuing work on aerodynamics and tyres started by Mark Webber yesterday. The Austrian's track time was curtailed by a rear suspension problem.

Ferrari concluded straight line testing at Vairano, tester Andrea Bertolini completing 337 km, while Michael Schumacher took over from Rubens Barrichello at Fiorano. Schumacher worked on tyres and set a best time of 56.060 out of 149 laps.

Jordan concluded its three-day test at Silverstone with test driver Timo Glock joining Giorgio Pantano on the final day. The team's programme concentrated on tyres and preparing for the San Marino Grand Prix.