Testing – Day 3 – Alonso on top with the R28

Fernando Alonso set the fastest time on the third day of private testing in Spain, in Barcelona. On the Circuit de Catalunya, the Renault driver took advantage of the various innovations brought by the diamond brand as well as slick tires to outpace Ferrari and Michael Schumacher by nearly a second.

Alonso was the most aggressive on track. He was also one of the most active with 100 laps covered. He tested many new features and had the famous Mass Damper, the dampers banned last year and allowed again in 2008. The R28 was still equipped with the Red Bull style engine cover wing, in addition to the updated front wing.

The Spaniard set his best time in the afternoon using slick tires. He is 9 tenths ahead of Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari F2008. He is already developing the 2009 single-seater, with modified aerodynamics to have only low downforce.

Force India also puts on a good performance today. After Fisichella’s second place yesterday, it’s Adrian Sutil who places the VMJ01 in third position just a few tenths behind the seven-time world champion.

Robert Kubica finishes this sunny day in fourth position. The Pole did plenty of laps with the F1.08. He had a slight mechanical issue and finally allowed the Bavarian team to test the slick tires offered by Bridgestone. This had not been the case since the beginning of the tests.

Rosberg is 5th and also experienced a technical problem, losing three good hours and many laps. Nevertheless, with his slightly modified Williams FW30, he is ahead of Barrichello and the Honda RA108. The Brazilian, who was first yesterday, was very enduring today with 141 laps completed. The Honda was not equipped with the so-called elephant wings or elephant ears as it was the day before.

McLaren is showing weak activity this week. Hamilton is only 7th, more than 2 seconds behind Alonso. He is ahead of Sébastien Bourdais with the new STR3. The Frenchman completed 71 laps before violently hitting a guardrail and damaging his new car in the gravel. Vettel will therefore not be able to benefit from the STR3 tomorrow, for the last day of testing in Barcelona.

Webber in the Red Bull, and Trulli in the Toyota, complete the standings. Super Aguri is still absent.

Four red flags were waved today, mostly for minor mechanical issues.

Barcelona Private Test Results – Day 3

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