Webber tops timings in second practice for Korean GP

Formula One world championship leader Mark Webber topped the times in second practice for the Korean Grand Prix at the Yeongam circuit on Friday. The 34-year-old Australian, driving for Red Bull Racing, set a best time of 1 minute 37.942 seconds with 19 minutes of the 90-minute session remaining.


Red Bull's Mark Webber powers his car during the second free practice
session at the Korean Grand Prix in Yeongam yesterday.

Webber, who said it was a "positive day", leads the title chase by 14 points after 16 rounds of the 19-race season, with Grands Prix in Brazil and Abu Dhabi to follow this weekend's inaugural race in Korea. Spaniard Fernando Alonso, second to Webber in the championship, was 0.190secs adrift of the Australian in Friday's afternoon practice in second place for Ferrari.

Britain's Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), Poland's Robert Kubica (Renault) and Hamilton's teammate and compatriot Jenson Button rounded out the top five. Webber's Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel, in third place in the championship level on points with Alonso, was seventh, 1.2secs behind the championship leader. "It was a positive day and the car ran well," Webber said. "We are optimistic with today's performance, and now we are focusing on getting ready for (qualifying) tomorrow."

And the Australian was full of praise for the new circuit. "I'm clutching at straws to criticise anything," he said. "It's enjoyable to drive here. There are a couple of unique sections, and it's always a challenge for a driver to get into a new venue. The pit entry and exit is a little bit marginal but, apart from that, they've done a remarkable job."

Alonso said he felt Ferrari and McLaren had closed the gap on Red Bull, who had a one-two finish in Japan two weeks ago. "We feel that maybe it's not as easy as it was for Red Bull in Suzuka, even if they are still being the favourites," the two-time world champion said.

"I think the situation is different to that in Japan -- here, we and McLaren could do something interesting."
Hamilton, in fourth place in the drivers' standings, 28 points behind Webber, said his team could take the fight to Red Bull and was hopeful that McLaren could benefit from their cars' straight-line speed advantage.
"We are very competitive -- as competitive as the Red Bulls, at least," the 2008 world champion said.
"The cars are fairly equal this weekend, so maybe it's down to what the driver can pull out."u00a0