Length: 5.793 km
Number of Laps: 53 (306.720 Km)
Best Lap: R. Barrichello - 1'21''046 (2004, Ferrari)
Record Pole: R. Barrichello - 1'20''089 (2004, Ferrari)
2005 Pole: JP. Montoya - 1'21''054 (Mclaren)
2005 Podium: JP. Montoya - F. Alonso - G Fisichella

That the result last time out, with the 'wrong' Ferrari winning, came as a surprise was rammed home on Monday morning when Shell Oils, promoting a new blend of super fuel, took out full page adverts in the press declaring that they had helped Filipe (sic) to his first win. No doubt they sacked the proof reader, and the mistake was rectified for Tuesday.

Back to Monza, and the last week has seen some movement in the merry go round that closes each season with Renault confirming Heikki Kovalainen as their second pilot for 2007. Add to this that we are promised an announcement late on Sunday as to the Ferrari line up for next season, and the repeated assurances that Michael Schumacher will hang up his helmet for good, and it is easy to forget that there is a race in between, somewhere on Sunday afternoon.

Not as easy as overlooking the Friday morning practice session.

With the forecast rain staying away it was to a warm and dry Monza that we turned our attention this morning, although one could be forgiven for thinking that this was anything other than a Grand Prix weekend judging by the 'action' on track for the majority of the hour.

In the first half hour the main entertainment was provided by Anthony Davidson whose Honda rolled to a halt with smoke billowing from the back after only two laps, bringing out the red flags momentarily. One car down, then, from the usual runners. Still, the remainder put up a display of sorts, with five Friday drivers and the two 'race' Super Aguri's all turning in the odd lap. Value for money, these Friday sessions.

To say that we witnessed a 'battle' for the top spot in these early minutes (well, up to three quarters of the way in) is a gross exaggeration - it was more a minor scuffle for the coveted place at the head of the time sheets.

The main protagonists were no surprise, with Alex Wurz (Williams) and young Sebastian Vettel (BMW-Sauber) circulating in the mid 1:25's, and Robert Doornbos in the Red Bull keeping a respectful watching brief.

Michelin runners had something of a shock when they tested here last week as they discovered the circuit had been resurfaced, although quite why that should affect Michelin runners and not Bridgestone remains a mystery.

With ten minutes left Vettel took top spot from Wurz. Wurz tried hard to take it back, both drivers in the 1:23's now.

With two minutes left the fans got a treat - a few of the race drivers put in a lap. Kimi Raikkonen for McLaren and Robert Kubica for BMW should be thanked for having a go. The Finn went fourth with a low 1:24, and the man from Krakow took second place behind his team mate Vettel, Sebastian half a second quicker.

In third came Wurz in the Williams, Neel Jani fifth for Red Bull and Tiago Monteiro sixth for Midland. Behind these came the second Red Bull of Robert Doornbos and the sister Midland of Christijan Albers. The three Super Aguri's followed, with Takuma Sato leading Sakon Yamamoto and Franck Montagny, then the third Midland of Giorgio Mondini. Behind these - nobody.

Neither Ferrari, Renault, Toyota, Honda, or Toro Rosso set a lap, nor the race drivers from Williams or Red Bull.

Let’s hope this afternoon sees more cars on track.