Raikkonen sets pace

Kimi Raikkonen delivered a warning shot to Michael Schumacher today by setting the pace in practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Finn left it late to set the fastest lap of the day in second practice, dropping Schumacher – who is aiming for a record 12th win of the season – down to second.

Raikkonen, in the new McLaren, has been Schumacher’s closest challenger in the last two grands prix and today he suggested that run will continue at the Hungaroring.

Raikkonen clocked a lap of one minute 20.884seconds to beat Schumacher’s time by 0.125secs, with Juan Pablo Montoya third in the revised Williams.

David Coulthard was a strong fourth, just 0.319secs behind team-mate Raikkonen with Toyota’s Olivier Panis and BAR’s Takuma Sato fifth and sixth respectively.

Jenson Button’s first time behind the wheel since news of his planned move to Williams was disappointing – the 24-year-old following up his 10th place in first practice with eighth this afternoon, nearly a second off the pace.

Schumacher was quick out of the blocks after setting he quickest time this morning and put up the fastest time of the early exchanges, pushed hard by Davidson.

Gianmaria Bruni started the session badly when he beached his Minardi in a sand trap after only six minutes.

Rubens Barrichello bettered Ferrari team-mate Schumacher’s time to go top of the timing sheets, although the pace of the session remained significantly slower than this morning’s opener.

That changed with Barrichello’s fastest effort so far this weekend. But the Brazilian’s time at the top was ended by countryman Antonio Pizzonia, again deputising for the injured Ralf Schumacher.

Michael Schumacher refused to languish down the order for long, though, and narrowly edged clear of Pizzonia – beating his first session time in the process.

Button had been the last driver on track and he slowly crept up the standings, moving to fourth with a little more than 20 minutes left.

With just 13 minutes remaining, Montoya came up with a surprise fastest lap - but his advantage was short-lived as Schumacher and then Raikkonen went quickest.

Ryan Briscoe, on his first day as Toyota’s third driver, survived an off-track excursion in the second session to make a favourable impression. He followed up his eighth place in first practice with 21st in the second.

Ricardo Zonta – elevated to the position of Toyota race driver in place of Cristiano da Matta – was 13th and 18th.