Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren Mercedes/Michelin) was fastest overall on the opening day of the Italian Grand Prix meeting at Monza. The teamï¿½s test driver lapped the 5.793-kilometre (3.599- mile) parkland track in 1m 20.201s this morning, 0.33s quicker than Toyota tester Ricardo Zontaï¿½s pace-setting lap in the second session. Juan Pablo Montoya (McLaren/Michelin) was third on aggregate and fastest of the regular racers.

Michelin drivers set the top 12 times ï¿½ and six of the companyï¿½s partner teams featured in the top 10. Kimi Rï¿½ikkï¿½nen (Team McLaren Mercedes) was fourth ahead of Mark Webber (BMW WilliamsF1 Team), Nick Heidfeld (BMW WilliamsF1 Team), Vitantonio Liuzzi (Red Bull Racing), Jarno Trulli (Toyota), Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault), Takuma Sato (Bï¿½Aï¿½R -Honda) Fernando Alonso (Renault) and Christian Klien (Red Bull Racing).

Michelin partner Red Bull Racing has confirmed that American Scott Speed will be its official test and reserve driver in 2006.

Current Red Bull driver Christian Klien was fined $2,000 this morning for speeding in the pit lane.

Michelinï¿½s day:
Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin motorsport director

ï¿½We evaluated a number of ideas for the very particular circumstances at Monza and our various compounds have produced interesting ï¿½ and very satisfying ï¿½ results.
ï¿½While it is clear that our ï¿½optionï¿½ tyre is a little bit faster over a single lap, we need to pore over the data to see how it will fare over 53 on Sunday. We have plenty of information at our disposal because our partners have completed plenty of long runs during the two free practice sessions.
ï¿½Track conditions are not radically different from those we encountered during last weekï¿½s test session here. Some teams have reported a little more understeer, but generally we appear to be in very good shape. Things really couldnï¿½t have gone any better today.ï¿½

2005 Italian Grand Prix - Main Page
2005 Italian Grand Prix - Team and Driver Friday Practice Reports Page

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