Day four at Jerez

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso finished the first pre-season test on a high by topping the time-sheets with a 1.18.877 after just 39 laps. He also crushed rumours that Ferrari could be a mid-field team after the dismal first three test days. Alonso achieved only 7th place out of 10 runners in yesterday’s session and his team mate Felipe Massa, who ran for the first two days, just made it to 7th and 9th place.

In 2nd place was french rookie Jean-Eric Vergne in his STR7, Which also runs with a Ferrari Engine. Vergne finished the day with a lap time of 1.19.597, seven tenths off Alonso.

Sebastian Vettel was third, just a few hundreds behind Vergne in the sister Toro Rosso. The defending world champion’s got 50 laps under his belt and managed a best time of 1.19.606. Meanwhile, 1.19.640 was Lewis Hamilton’s best time, 0.034 behind Vettel, after 86 laps around the Jerez circuit.

Romain Grosjean in the E20 racked up 95 laps with a fastest lap time of 1.19.729. His time from yesterday is still the fastest of all the 2012 cars from the four days.

The sauber of Kamui Kobayashi was 6th with a time of 1.19.834 after 76 laps throughout the day.

Nico Hulkenberg was 7th of 9 drivers on his only day of testing after reserve driver Jules Bianchi crashed the car first thing in the morning, and the team had to spend the rest of the day waiting for parts that were damaged.

Ayrton Senna’s nephew Bruno was 8th with a time of 1.20.132 after a huge 125 laps in his Williams.

And at the back of the field was Jarno Trulli in his CT01. The Italian completed 117 laps in the day and managed a lap time of 1.22.198. He was 3.321 behind Fernando Alonso in 1st.

Mercedes and Hispania did not run cars today. Mercedes had decided after their strong run that it was time to get back to the factory to finish the MGP W03.

Hispania did not compete today because they have failed a crash test.

Unofficial Friday test times from Jerez:
1. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:18.877, 39 Laps
2. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1:19.597, 80 Laps
3. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:19.606, 50 Laps
4. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:19.640, 86 Laps
5. Romain Grosjean, Lotus, 1:19.729, 95 Laps
6. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber, 1:19.834, 76 Laps
7. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:19.977, 90 Laps
8. Bruno Senna, Williams, 1:20.132, 125 Laps
9. Jarno Trulli, Caterham, 1:22.198, 117 Laps

Unofficial aggregate test times from Jerez:
1. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes*, 1:17.613, 174 Laps
2. Romain Grosjean, Lotus, 1:18.419, 212 Laps
3. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes*, 1:18.561, 173 Laps
4. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:18.877, 106 Laps
5. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:19.184, 150 Laps
6. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:19.297, 146 Laps
7. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:19.464, 166 Laps
8. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, 1:19.587, 157 Laps
9. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1:19.597, 159 Laps
10. Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, 1:19.670, 190 Laps
11. Sergio Perez, Sauber, 1:19.770, 154 Laps
12. Paul di Resta, Force India, 1:19.772, 170 Laps
13. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber, 1:19.834, 182 Laps
14. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:19.977, 90 Laps
15. Bruno Senna, Williams, 1:20.132, 250 Laps
16. Jules Bianchi, Force India, 1:20.221, 48 Laps
17. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:20.454, 164 Laps
18. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:20.688, 135 Laps
19. Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 1:21.197, 122 Laps
20. Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham, 1:21.518, 157 Laps
21. Pedro de la Rosa, HRT*, 1:22.128, 108 Laps
22. Jarno Trulli, Caterham, 1:22.198, 117 Laps
23. Giedo van der Garde, Caterham, 1:23.324, 74 Laps
* 2011 car