Honda Pair Pleased With Performance

By: Lauren Woods

Honda Racing Formula One Team's pair of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello posted good performances at the practice session held in preparation for the upcoming United States Grand Prix. The two Formula One finished the afternoon practice session within the top ten.

The United States Grand Prix is the seventh race of the current Formula One season. The second race in North America, it will be held at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Practice sessions before the race took place at the said circuit. Raceday is scheduled this Sunday.

During the practice sessions, Formula One teams have stepped up their game and looks to be closing the gap between them and frontrunners McLaren and Ferrari.

Jenson Button, the number one driver for Honda, posted the 18th fastest lap time during the first practice session. He then performed better at the second practice session to set the ninth fastest lap time of 1 minute and 13.144 seconds.

"It has been a fairly routine Friday for us really," says the English Formula One driver. "We achieved a good number of laps between Rubens and myself so we have plenty of information to work with tonight. I had some issues in the morning and early afternoon with understeer at certain corners but we were able to work through this and pick up some good front and rear grip by the end of the session. A good start."

Button currently has no points to his credit after six races. He was forced to retire his Formula One car at the Bahrain and Canadian Grands Prix.

Button's teammate Rubens Barrichello on the other hand posted the ninth fastest lap in the first practice session. On the second practice session, he was bested by Button. He finished tenth after the second practice session on board his RA107 which no Accord with a system can overtake.

"We have completed a lot of hard work today but we were able to achieve a lot, particularly in the afternoon session," says the Brazilian Formula One driver who is yet to grab a point this season. Like BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, he also complained about his car's balance.

"I struggled with the balance of the car during this morning's practice, but this afternoon we made some improvements during the course of the session which leaves us with a lot of good data to be working with this evening. Generally a good foundation from which to move forward this weekend," he claims.

The Brazilian driver famous for his stint with Ferrari alongside seven-time champion Michael Schumacher is yet to place higher than tenth place in any race this season. His highest finish this season came at the Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix.

McLaren continues its dominance when two-time defending champion Fernando Alonso recorded the fastest lap times in both practice sessions. The Spaniard currently trails his teammate Lewis Hamilton in the driver's championship standings. Hamilton also showed a good performance at the two practice sessions. The young British driver who leads all drivers in points posted the third fastest lap time during the first practice session. On the second free practice session, the rookie sensation posted the second fastest lap time behind his teammate.

Going into the United States Grand Prix, Honda is ranked tenth with no points yet to their credit. The duo of Button and Barrichello though are hoping to take the team's first point/s at the United States Grand Prix.

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