Alonso sets pace in practice

Double world champion Fernando Alonso set the pace in practice for his home Spanish Grand Prix yesterday after being upstaged earlier by McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Alonso, last year's winner in Spain with Renault, led the afternoon session at the Circuit de Catalunya with a best time of 1:21.397.

British rookie Hamilton, who last month became the first Formula One driver to finish his opening three grands prix on the podium, had been quickest in the morning with a lap of 1:21.880 but was only fifth in the afternoon.

While McLaren led both sessions, champions Renault showed signs of a resurgence in the afternoon with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and Finland's Heikki Kovalainen second and third respectively.

Renault, champions for the past two seasons, have scored just nine points this season and Fisichella was quoted earlier in the week as saying he did not expect to be back on the podium this year.

Ferrari, five points behind McLaren in the constructors' standings, remained strong with Kimi Raikkonen third fastest in the morning and Felipe Massa fourth in the second session.

Alonso, Raikkonen and Hamilton are all level on 22 points at the top of the drivers' standings after three races.