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Formula One
F1: Paffett Leads The Way At Jerez
Sometimes age and experience can rule the day...
SPEED Staff  |  Posted December 02, 2009   Jerez, (ESP)
Gary Paffett, testing for McLaren, put down the fastest lap Wednesday during the Formula One young drivers test at Jerez. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Sometimes age and experience can rule the day and Gary Paffett proved that Wednesday during day two of the Formula One young drivers test at Jerez Spain.

Driving for McLaren, a team he tested for in 2001, the 28 year old was the only driver to go below the 1:19 mark putting down the fastest time of the day with a 1:18.718. The time was nearly a half second faster then William’s rookie Nico Hulkenberg who posted his second best time in the final hour of the session.

Red Bull junior driver Daniel Ricciardo finished the session with the third fastest time.

“I found it a bit easier today,” Ricciardo the British Formula Three champion, told the official F1 site. “I knew what to expect this morning and the procedures were easier to understand, so I was able to concentrate on improving my driving and hopefully give my best in terms of providing the engineers with good feedback.”

Paul di Resta in a Force India machine and Esteban Gutierrez driving for the departing BMW-Sauber team rounded out the top five.

"It was a very positive day for me,” Resta who completed 68 laps before a hydraulic problem on the F1.08 ended his day early, said. “The main idea was to live that experience, to enjoy the day and to learn. This very high professional level means you have to be very calm and use your intelligence. Due to the hydraulic problem in the afternoon I was unable to make use of two more sets of fresh tyres, but on the other hand I had five sets, which of course is more than I ever had before on one day!”

Mike Conway was the sixth-fastest testing for Brawn GP most of the day. Marcus Ericsson took over late in the day and ran 37 laps as he continued to familiarize himself with the BGP-001; he finished the day seventh.

Ferrari announced early in the day that had signed Jules Bianchi to their ART team. Bianchi, recent winner of the Formula 3 Euroseries title, ran a race configuration during the day for a total 113 laps.

Renault divided the driving duties in the R29 between 2009 reserve driver Lucas di Grassi, and China’s Ho-Pin Tung. Tung covered 67 laps in the morning to finish in 11th, but Di Grassi’s best was six-tenths faster and he ended the day tenth.

Rounding out the top 12 was Mirko Bortolotti, a Formula Two racer, for Toro Rosso.

Unofficial Wednesday times from Jerez:

1. Gary Paffett, McLaren, 1:18.718

2. Nico Hulkenberg, Williams, 1:19.184

3. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, 1:19.243

4. Paul Di Resta, Force India, 1:19.411

5. Esteban Gutierrez, BMW Sauber, 1:20.190

6. Mike Conway, Brawn GP, 1:20.222

7. Marcus Ericsson, Brawn GP, 1:20.440

8. JR Hildebrand, Force India, 1:20.517

9. Jules Bianchi, Ferrari, 1:20.586

10. Lucas di Grassi, Renault, 1:20.898

11. Ho-Pin Tung, Renault, 1:21.492

12. Mirko Bortolotti, Toro Rosso, 1:21.761
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