Di Grassi tops Barcelona GP2 test

Lucas di Grassi was fastest again as GP2 testing resumed at Barcelona.

The series returnee, now driving for the Racing Engineering squad that took Giorgio Pantano to last year's title, was quickest by three tenths of a second.

Alvaro Parente was a highly impressive second for Tiago Monteiro's Ocean Racing Technology team, which had struggled for pace in its previous BCN guise. The former World Series by Renault and British Formula 3 champion had been fastest of all in the morning session.

DAMS driver Jerome D'Ambrosio was third, ahead of Campos Racing's Vitaly Petrov and ART duo Pastor Maldonado and Vitaly Petrov.

Only three seats are unaccounted for in this year's main GP2 Series, but both teams involved tried out potential drivers in today's test.

Trident Racing - which has yet to sign a driver for either of its cars - re-called Superleague Formula star Davide Rigon for a second outing, and also tested F3 graduate Ricardo Teixeira.

F3 Euro Series frontrunner James Jakes was in action for DPR, the other team still searching for a driver. Michael Herck has already been confirmed for the team, but its second car is currently empty.

The Barcelona test, which runs until Wednesday, is the final practice opportunity prior to the start of the GP2 season.

Monday's combined testing times:

Pos Driver Team Time 1. Lucas di Grassi Racing Engineering 1:27.471 2. Alvaro Parente Ocean 1:27.733 3. Jerome d'Ambrosio DAMS 1:27.854 4. Vitaly Petrov Campos 1:27.897 5. Pastor Maldonado ART 1:27.936 6. Nico Hulkenberg ART 1:27.973 7. Javier Villa Super Nova 1:28.036 8. Davide Valsecchi Durango 1:28.077 9. Roldan Rodriguez Piquet 1:28.123 10. Kamui Kobayashi DAMS 1:28.159 11. Luca Filippi Super Nova 1:28.200 12. Alberto Valerio Piquet 1:28.435 13. Karun Chandhok Ocean 1:28.474 14. Edoardo Mortara Arden 1:28.566 15. Diego Nunes iSport 1:28.608 16. Sergio Perez Arden 1:28.627 17. Dani Clos Racing Engineering 1:28.675 18. Andreas Zuber Fisichella 1:28.790 19. Giedo van der Garde iSport 1:28.806 20. Michael Herck DPR 1:28.850 21. Romain Grosjean Campos 1:28.910 22. Nelson Panciatici Durango 1:28.925 23. Davide Rigon Trident 1:29.761 24. Luiz Razia Fisichella 1:29.805 25. James Jakes DPR 1:30.088 26. Ricardo Teixeira Trident 1:34.105

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