Fernando Alonso brought joy to his adoring Spanish fans with the fastest time in the second practice session in Valencia.
However the Spaniard’s afternoon did not run without drama after colliding with Nick Heidfeld in the middle of the session.
Taking too much speed into the final corner of the circuit, Alonso could not avoid the BMW, sending Heidfeld flying into the air. The Renault driver also spun in the dying minutes of practice after setting the fastest lap of the session.
Lewis Hamilton could only manage three laps in the second session, after an early spin resulted in the Brit tagging his Mclaren’s new front wing into the barrier and damaging the support hangar.
Alonso was followed by the Brawn’s of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Alonso Renault (B) 1:39.404 33 2. Button Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:40.178 + 0.774 33 3. Barrichello Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:40.209 + 0.805 34 4. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:40.385 + 0.981 39 5. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:40.503 + 1.099 35 6. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:40.596 + 1.192 23 7. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:40.643 + 1.239 34 8. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:40.681 + 1.277 31 9. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:40.723 + 1.319 33 10. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:40.738 + 1.334 31 11. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:40.739 + 1.335 39 12. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:40.770 + 1.366 32 13. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:40.787 + 1.383 35 14. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:40.956 + 1.552 37 15. Glock Toyota (B) 1:40.985 + 1.581 30 16. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:41.156 + 1.752 34 17. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:41.350 + 1.946 29 18. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:42.017 + 2.613 37 19. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:42.089 + 2.685 34 20. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:43.214 + 3.810 3