Mugello test - day three: 28 April.

BAR-Honda topped the timesheets for the second straight day at Mugello, where Jenson Button and Enrique Bernoldi took over from Wednesday pacesetters Anthony Davidson and Takuma Sato.

Despite being up against a rejuvenated Ferrari squad, which had both Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello running for the second day, Button set the pace by ducking four-tenths under Davidson's earlier mark. The Imola podium finisher continued the evaluation of aerodynamic upgrades begun by Sato on Wednesday, while Bernoldi ran through some early set-up runs before completing a series of tyre evaluations for forthcoming races. The team also took time to look at the latest specification engines from Honda, as Davidson and Bernoldi each completed programmes split between the regular 007 and a prototype chassis used to evaluate developments for the 2006 regulations.

"We got through all our test items, looking at some new aerodynamic developments on the car," Button reported, "I completed 123 laps today and found some interesting things with the new package which I am confident will enhance our performance in Barcelona."

As Minardi had done 24 hours earlier, BAR chief engineer Mark Ellis was at pains to point out that, despite using four drivers over the two days, the team remained in total respect of its testing agreement with the other eight teams opposed to Ferrari's massive work programme.

The Scuderia was also concluding its stay at Mugello, albeit at the end of three days rather than the two used by BAR and Minardi. Once again, Schumacher and Barrichello were charged with driving duties, running the latest F2005 continue the tyre and aerodynamic work begun on Tuesday by test drivers Luca Badoer and Marc Gene. Schumacher proved to be the faster of the pair, clocking 1min 20.566secs to Barrichello's 1min 21.406secs.

Minardi, meanwhile, continued to run its latest PS05 chassis, with Patrick Friesacher and Christijan Albers present in the new car and test driver Chanoch Nissany in the older PS04B.

In near-ideal weather conditions, the programme focused on cooling arrangements, aerodynamics, chassis and suspension set-up, and tyre evaluation in what was really the new car's first real test since its introduction on the eve of the San Marino GP. Encouragingly, both PS05s displayed good reliability, allowing Friesacher and Albers to collect a considerable amount of data ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.

"We made a number of changes to the car today, both in terms of chassis set-up and software, which meant we stayed in the garage a little longer than planned while all the technical matters were sorted out," Albers revealed, "Once on the track, however, we had a very good day. The car showed it has speed, and with reliability as well, and we were able to work through a solid programme. The PS05 is a new car, and there will continue to be small problems to be solved and work to be done in the coming weeks, but everything looks very positive at the moment."

Leading times (28 April) - Mugello:

Jenson Button BAR-Honda 1m 20.250s 123 lapsMichael Schumacher Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 20.566s 84aps*Rubens Barrichello Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 21.406s 81laps*Enrique Bernoldi BAR-Honda 1m 21.500s 151 lapsChristijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth 1m 24.380s 66 laps*Patrick Friesacher Minardi-Cosworth 1m 25.721s 47 laps*Chanoch Nissany Minardi-Cosworth 1m 39.510s 16 laps*

[* denotes Bridgestone tyres; all others on Michelin tyres]

Track conditions: Sunny, windy in the afternoon

All times unofficial