The 2008 Japanese Grand Prix Thread

[Ed]

Hamilton had crossed a chicane hence that super quick middle sector

Piquet improves in 6th with a 1:19.743.

Now the 2 Renaults are within a second of the fastest time

[Ed]

All the drivers are on the track

Heidfeld spins but recovers

[Ed]

Session over.

Hamilton fastest ahead of Massa and Kovalainen. Raikkonen, Alonso, Piquet, Vettel and Kubica make the top 8.

[Ed]

At the end of the session, most drivers practice starts on the starting grid.

[Ed]

Full results following the 1st practice session

Position Driver Team Best Laptime/Gap Total Laps
1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:18.910 23
2 Felipe Massa Ferrari 0.153 24
3 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 0.369 20
4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 0.489 31
5 Fernando Alonso Renault 0.563 30
6 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 0.833 35
7 Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari 1.211 30
8 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1.250 26
9 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1.272 34
10 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1.307 25
11 Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari 1.378 26
12 7 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1.440 28
13 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1.710 24
14 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1.718 23
15 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1.747 33
16 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1.843 32
17 Jenson Button Honda 1.859 27
18 Timo Glock Toyota 1.913 37
19 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1.995 24
20 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 2.104 28

[Ed]

Second Friday practice session underway and nearly all the drivers are on the track.

Air temperature is at 21 degrees with track temperature is at 29 degrees.

[Ed]

Heidfeld is fastest with a 1:21.147.

[Ed]

Now Bourdais fastest with a 1:20.389

[Ed]

Now Alonso fastest with a 1:19.951

[Ed]

Top 8: Alonso, Bourdais, Vettel, Kubica, Sutil, Webber, Button and Heidfeld.

Hamilton and Kovalainen on the track

[Ed]

Hamilton goes fastest with a 1:19.949

[Ed]

Hamilton improves with a 1:19.636

[Ed]

Kovalainen moves into second with a 1:19.867

[Ed]

Raikkonen and Massa on the track

[Ed]

Bourdais moves into second with a 1:19.842