Fernando Alonso boosted his hopes of taking pole position for his home race tomorrow as he swept to top spot in final practice for the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
The 21-year-old, who became the youngest driver in history and the first Spaniard to take pole in Malaysia earlier this season, finished half a second clear of his rivals on the Circuit de Catalunya.
The Renault driver, who already has two podium finishes to his name this season, was roared on by his fellow countrymen who are expected the break the attendance record in tomorrow's race.
Brazil's Rubens Barrichello was second fastest in his new Ferrari while team-mate and five-times world champion Michael Schumacher was almost a second adrift in fourth.
The Ferrari duo were split by Renault's Jarno Trulli who will also have his eye on scoring the first pole of his career later today.
Alonso and Trulli lack the horsepower of the Ferraris but the tight and twisty nature of the Spanish track is suited to their car.
Toyota's Olivier Panis was fifth while championship leader Kimi Raikkonen finished sixth fastest for McLaren having been quickest in this morning's first session.
Raikkonen leads the standings by 13 points from team-mate David Coulthard who was seventh quickest just ahead of Jenson Button in the BAR-Honda. Button's fellow BAR driver Jacques Villeneuve had an unhappier session as he slid out with a few minutes left and slightly damaged the rear of his car as he finished 12th.
Under-pressure Antonio Pizzonia, who had been second quickest in the opening session dropped to 10th place after the break, one spot behind Jaguar Racing team-mate Mark Webber.
Ralph Firman posted the 17th fastest time for Jordan-Ford after being given a vote of confidence by team chief Eddie Jordan yesterday as he rubbished speculation that the Norwich-based rookie's place was under threat.
Speculation during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend here at the Catalunya Circuit suggested Firman, 27, could be on his way out after being outperformed by team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella.
But Jordan said that Firman, who moved into Formula One from Japan's Formula Nippon where he was crowned champion last year, is under no pressure.
"The speculation about Ralph is nonsense," said Jordan. "He is learning and we will support him in that. It's impossible to beat a team-mate who is an experienced driver like Giancarlo with over 100 Grands Prix behind him.
"We want Ralph to relax a bit more - sometimes you have to put your arm around a driver's shoulder and help him. He is under no pressure from us and I have no doubt he can perform very well."
Firman, who signed for the team on the eve of the season, has failed to finish three of the four opening races following suspension failures and a blown engine.
His team-mate, Fisichella, won the Brazilian Grand Prix and has out-qualified Firman in every one of the races so far.
The rumours surrounding Firman's future with the team arrived following similar talks over Brazilian rookie Antonio Pizzonia's position with the Jaguar team after a disappointing start to the season.
But Jordan called for Firman, who completed his only race distance in the Malaysian Grand Prix, to be given time to prove himself.
"I think everyone should think twice about criticising Ralph and look at his record," Jordan added. "He looks after the car, he learns because he is an intelligent racer and he's won everything he's set out to win.
"Formula One is tough, and when you are fresh into a team on the eve of the season, with half a dozen days of rain-affected testing and up against one of the top four drivers in the world as your team mate, it's not exactly easy."