Testing got underway in Barcelona this morning, for another major test ahead of the start of the season in March. With Ferrari and Toyota heading to Bahrain for six days of testing over the next fortnight, and Super Aguri still in financial difficulty, only eight teams turned up this morning, with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton topping the times in his MP4-23.
After the usual installation runs on wet tyres, the teams and drivers got down to work. All eyes were on the Red Bull RB4, after it emerged from the garage with a radical engine cover, one which extends horizontally back from the air intake above the driver's head, almost as far back as the rear wing.
On-track, Kazuki Nakajima was involved in a serious accident at the first corner, with the Japanese driver going straight on. British website Autosport.com has reported that the problem was of a technical nature, however, with serious damage to the front of the new FW30, it's likely that team-mate Nico Roserg will be the only Williams driver on-track at least until mid afternoon.
On the timesheets, Giancarlo Fisichella raised many eyebrows by clocking the second fastest time by lunchtime, followed by Alonso, Kubica and Rosberg. Webber and Coulthard, with the new engine cover, clocked the sixth and seventh quickest times. Elsewhere down the field, Rubens Barrichello gave Honda's new livery a baptism of fire, with an inferno as he entered the pits following a run. After just 11 laps, the Brazilian had clocked the morning's slowest time.
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