The opening session of practice for the 2005 Turkish Grand Prix was the scene for the Spaniard’s flying run that saw him finish some half a second quicker than his second-placed McLaren teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

The signs were ominous from the British squad with de la Rosa dominating and Raikkonen holding back the remainder of the competition.

However de la Rosa’s late retirement – which caused marshals to call on a crane and the red flags – added a sour note to what was an otherwise promising session.

Williams will have been more pleased after Mark Webber finished in a surprise third place, eight tenths off the pace.

The Australian was in the thick of the action as drivers traded times and positions late in the session.

Toyota's Ricardo Zonta, BAR's Jenson Button, McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya, Renault's Fernando Alonso, and Ferrari's Michael Schumacher rounded out the top eight.

Overall the session was a typically subdued affair. Most men were keen to keep miles down on their two-race engines though a flurry of activity in the final minutes did provide some excitement.

Surprisingly there were few offs during the hour-long run despite the fact the drivers had never raced on the circuit before.

Red Bull Racing's Tonio Liuzzi had a moment in the gravel and Michael Schumacher drifted wide and into the dirt through turn four.