May 21 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel was smoking in the morning, but in the final 90 minutes of Thursday practice, it was Robert Kubica’s V8 engine that gave up the ghost.
The spectacular failure, involving plumes of white smoke and fire, left the Pole unable to set a single flying lap in his BMW-Sauber, while his teammate Nick Heidfeld ran to a woeful 17th quickest.
There was better fortune for Nico Rosberg, whose Williams so often tops the practice timesheets, followed by the promising form of Lewis Hamilton, who was within the top three all day in the Monte Carlo sunshine.
Rubens Barrichello, meanwhile, has so far been consistently quicker than his teammate and championship leader Jenson Button in the Principality, while Ferrari’s Felipe Massa also looks to be near the ultimate pace.
It is reported that Button spent time in the garage following a light brush with an arm-co barrier.
Massa found himself involved in a curious incident that reminded observers of the 2005 Casino Square pileup triggered by a loss of temper by Juan Pablo Montoya.
The Brazilian, Massa, took time out to wave his fists at Giancarlo Fisichella, after first Massa held up his Roman rival, and then the equally angry occupant of the Force India had a turn thwarting the Ferrari.
Toyota were running a new front wing in the afternoon session, but the highlight of the Cologne based team’s Thursday was a 14th quickest laptime for Jarno Trulli
Monaco GP, 2th free practise
1 N. Rosberg Williams 1:15.243 45
2 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:15.445 35
3 R. Barrichello Brawn GP 1:15.590 41
4 J. Button Brawn GP 1:15.774 36
5 F. Massa Ferrari 1:15.832 42
6 S. Vettel Red Bull 1:15.847 33
7 H. Kovalainen McLaren 1:15.984 45
8 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:15.985 43
9 K. Nakajima Williams 1:16.260 43
10 N. Piquet jr. Renault 1:16.286 43
11 F. Alonso Renault 1:16.552 39
12 M. Webber Red Bull 1:16.579 27
13 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:16.675 38
14 J. Trulli Toyota 1:16.915 43
15 S. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:16.983 48
16 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:17.052 48
17 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:17.109 40
18 T. Glock Toyota 1:17.207 45
19 G. Fisichella Force India F1 1:17.504 45
20 R. Kubica BMW no time 2
Monaco GP, 1st free practise
1 R. Barrichello Brawn GP 1:17.189 25
2 F. Massa Ferrari 1:17.499 30
3 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:17.578 25
4 H. Kovalainen McLaren 1:17.686 29
5 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:17.839 29
6 K. Nakajima Williams 1:18.000 29
7 N. Rosberg Williams 1:18.024 27
8 J. Button Brawn GP 1:18.080 27
9 F. Alonso Renault 1:18.283 30
10 M. Webber Red Bull 1:18.348 22
11 S. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:18.695 36
12 N. Piquet jr. Renault 1:19.204 36
13 S. Vettel Red Bull 1:19.233 16
14 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:19.255 31
15 G. Fisichella Force India F1 1:19.534 28
16 R. Kubica BMW 1:19.255 31
17 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:19.579 23
18 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:19.600 24
19 T. Glock Toyota 1:19.698 24
20 J. Trulli Toyota 1:19.831 28
