McLaren dominates in Grand Prix practice
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-05 10:05

McLaren dominated practice for the second straight day, with Kimi Raikkonen recording the fastest lap in the last pre-qualifying session Saturday for the Australian Grand Prix.

He got around the Albert Park circuit in 1 minute, 27.297 seconds. His new teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, was two places back and almost a second behind.

Australia's Mark Webber in action in his Williams during the fourth Formula One practice session at Melbourne's Albert Park circuit Saturday, March 5, 2005. The Australian Grand Prix will be raced here on Sunday March 6. [AP]

Renault's Fernando Alonso was second-fastest, 0.112 behind Raikkonen and almost eight-tenths clear of Montoya, who switched to McLaren from Williams in the offseason.

Alonso's Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella was next, followed by BAR-Honda's Jenson Button, Williams' Mark Webber and seven-time series champion Michael Schumacher, driving a modified version of his 2004 Ferrari.

After going to court and winning his fight to be able to put his cars on the track, Minardi owner Paul Stoddart decided to modify his cars overnight to comply with Formula One's 2005 specifications.

The ploy worked, gaining headlines for the struggling F1 team and for Australian millionaire Stoddart, who needs all the ink he can get before he launches an airline in Australia later this year.

"We've made the point, we've taken it as far as we needed to take it," Stoddart said Saturday before his two cars went out for practice. "Throughout the night we've managed to convert two of the cars to '05 specifications.

"As far as we're concerned, the matter is over."

Stoddart didn't want to spend money upgrading his 2004 cars to meet 2005 specifications when his new car, under an engine deal negotiated late in November, would be ready after the third race this year.

"We weren't joking, we didn't have all the parts," Stoddart said. "Anyone who was around last night knows that we've been cutting parts — have a look at the body work, you'll see that it's been cut and glued everywhere.

"We've got two race cars and we haven't got spares. If we have any offs, that's our weekend finished."

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