New Formula One world championship leader Felipe Massa took the honours on the first day of this week's three-day test at Silverstone.
Brazilian Massa heads the drivers' standings for the first time in his F1 career following his third win of the season, and eighth in the sport overall in Sunday's French Grand Prix.
High on confidence, and with the teams fine-tuning preparations for the British Grand Prix on July 6, Massa completed 71 laps of the 3.194-mile circuit, with his best a time of one minute 20.188secs.
Massa comfortably pushed McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen into second place by 0.289secs, with BMW Sauber's title challenger Robert Kubica third and over 0.8secs adrift.
With all 10 teams taking to the Northamptonshire track, only two employed their test drivers, with one of those, Kamui Kobayashi for Toyota, a fine fourth in 1:21.335.
"It was the first time I've driven at Silverstone, although I went around on a scooter yesterday to check the track!" remarked the Japanese driver.
"Today I spent the early laps getting used to the circuit. It's fun to drive and I especially liked the sweeping, high-speed corners at Becketts.
"The last sector is tricky, especially the double hairpin at Luffield where it is difficult to find the perfect line.
"We tested set-ups and different aerodynamic configurations. We made it through our programme, so it was a good day."
Nico Rosberg was fifth for Williams, followed by the Red Bull of Mark Webber and Renault's Nelson Piquet, who finally scored his first points of his debut season at Magny-Cours.
Jenson Button, desperately looking for any kind of tonic ahead of his home race, was seventh for Honda, nearly two seconds down on Massa.
Force India tester Vitantonio Liuzzi was eighth, the Italian completing 108 laps, the most of any of the 10 drivers.
Sebastian Vettel's day was cut short by a technical issue with his Toro Rosso which allowed the German to complete only 10 laps, with his best a 1:23.853, and he brought up the rear.
The team are hoping to resolve the problem to allow Vettel a full day in the car tomorrow, with team-mate Sebastien Bourdais taking over on Thursday.
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but..... lewis was as quick, thats the point.
Where are all you LH boys at!!! Massa is for real, remember he got the best of Shumi more than a few times before he retired. Kimmi has his hands full, Massa will prevail and win the title. He is the hottest driver with no doudts. If Ron Dennis would have sat LH down when he came to F-1, FA will be our #1, learn as much as you can, next year will be your turn! Back to back titles for them easy......you should never put out a World Champion below a rookie!! How dumb was that???
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