Alonso's back on track

Fernando Alonso returned to the front in practice for the French Grand Prix today to ease memories of his Indianapolis defeat.

The world champion was a disappointing fifth two weeks ago but hit back in second practice at Magny-Cours by setting the fastest lap from a race driver.

Alonso was beaten only by BMW-Sauber tester Robert Kubica, who was able to rack up the laps, unhindered by the need to preserve his engine.

Kubica was also helped by a radical new car which features vertical struts immediately in front of the drivers to improve airflow.

As well as the "twin towers" at the front, Kubica’s car also boasted McLaren-style horns on the roll hoop and the modifications appeared to do the trick as he set a best lap of one minute 16.902 seconds.

Alonso, driving for the French Renault team on Bastille Day, was just over half a second in arrears and the only racer to break into the top four.

Immediately behind him, Honda tester Anthony Davidson was third with Williams counterpart Alex Wurz fourth.

Giancarlo Fisichella emphasised Renault’s return to form with fifth place while Alonso’s title rival Michael Schumacher was sixth for Ferrari.

Honda’s Jenson Button was down in 12th despite an encouraging first practice, when he was the fastest race driver behind Kubica, while David Coulthard was 25th for Red Bull.

Coulthard’s former team-mate Kimi Raikkonen failed to reach the end of the session when his McLaren stopped suddenly, leaving him to park on the grass.

He was not the only driver to suffer a problem though, with Rubens Barrichello smashing his Honda into a tyre wall 20 minutes in.

The Brazilian lost control of the rear of his car and slid sideways into the barrier at speed, damaging his suspension and bodywork.

Scott Speed, fresh from the disappointment of his home race lasting just a few hundred yards at Indianapolis, suffered the same fate as Barrichello.

The American lost control of his Scuderia Toro Rosso on the right-left flick of turn six and speared into the tyre wall backwards at high speed.