Length: 4.627 km
Number of Laps: 66 (305.256 Km)
Best Lap: G. Fisichella - 1'15''641 (2005, Renault)
Record Pole: F. Alonso - 1'14''648 (2006, Renault)
2006 Pole: F. Alonso - 1'14''648 (Renault)
2006 Podium: F. Alonso - M. Schumacher - G. Fisichella

Fernando Alonso delighted his home crowd by setting the fastest time in Friday afternoon practice in Barcelona.

The world champion was followed by Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella, who vaulted from the midfield to second with a late lap just 0.287 seconds slower than Alonso's time.

Heikki Kovalainen matched his teammate's improvement to take third. He had been on course to pip Fisichella on his final lap before spinning at Turn 13.

Prior to the Renaults' laps, Alonso had been nearly eight tenths of a second clear of the field.

His McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton was fastest initially - lapping in 1:22.301 after 10 minutes before improving to 1:22.188 on his next lap.

But 20 minutes later, Alonso emerged on the softer compound tyres and beat Hamilton's mark by 0.791 seconds. The champion's 1:21.397 lap would remain unbeaten throughout the final hour of Friday running.

The Ferraris ultimately reached fourth and sixth after a low-key start to the session. Felipe Massa had compromised two of his early laps with dramatic moments at Turn 10, but later pipped Hamilton to fourth, the British rookie having taken to the Turn 1 grass on his final run.

Toro Rosso's Scott Speed was the sensation of the afternoon. The American held second place early on, splitting the McLarens. He later went off the road briefly at Turn 8, but despite failing to improve his time, Speed would only drop down to 10th by the end of the session.

Other drivers exploring the limits of the circuit were Alex Wurz, who slithered sideways through the Turn 5 gravel, and Nick Heidfeld, who went over the grass at Turn 13.

Heidfeld ended the afternoon in eighth, behind Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Rosberg, and ahead of Mark Webber and Speed.