Highlights

Alonso dominates U.S. GP free practice

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-06-16 15:34

Double world champion Fernando Alonso was fastest in both free practice sessions for the U.S. Grand Prix on Friday, with McLaren team mate Lewis Hamilton a close second in the afternoon.

The Spaniard, who trails Hamilton by eight points in the championship standings after six races, underlined his determination to get back to the top on a sizzling day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

He was fastest in the morning with a lap of one minute 11.925 seconds and quickest again in the afternoon with a time of 1:12.156.

The Brickyard, however, has never been kind to Alonso on race day, the Speedway being the only circuit on the current calendar where he has yet to stand on the podium.

"This track has never been kind to me but I really want to do well this weekend," said Alonso, whose rivalry with his remarkable rookie team mate has become the talking point of the paddock.

"The car has been performing strongly but I am sure both Ferrari and BMW will be at the front as well."

Hamilton, whose only experience of the track is from video games, quickly got to grips with the 2.6 mile (4.1km) layout and ended the second session just 0.153 seconds slower.

The 22-year-old Briton, who in Canada last Sunday became the first black driver to win a Formula One race, had several brushes with the walls on his way to setting the third best time in the morning.

"As this is the first time I have ever driven at the Indianapolis track I spent some time getting to know the circuit," said Hamilton, who has stood on the podium in all six of his career starts so far.

"We have a pretty good idea where we are going and should be competitive but there's still a long way to go."

After struggling in the last two races, Ferrari were close behind McLaren with Brazilian Felipe Massa clocking the third quickest time in the second session ahead of Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen.

Indianapolis has provided a happy hunting ground for Ferrari, having won six of seven grand prix staged there since 2000, and the Italian team are looking to come back strongly and cut McLaren's 28 point lead in the constructors' standings.

"I think on this track we are a bit more competitive than was the case in the last two races," said Massa, twice a winner this season.

"I think we can fight for the top places."

German teenager Sebastian Vettel, who will make his Formula One race debut Sunday in place of the injured Robert Kubica, was fourth quickest in a BMW Sauber in the morning but only 11th in the afternoon.