Jenson Button shrugged off rumours about his future to set the pace on the second unofficial session of the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in Germany today. Button delighted his BMW bosses on their first appearance on home soil since coming into Formula One by finishing 0.4 seconds ahead of Benetton's Alexander Wurz.
World champion Mika Hakkinen looked set to spearhead another McLaren domination as he held an advantage of just 0.006secs over team-mate David Coulthard before the intervention of Wurz and then Button. Hakkinen, whose victory in the last race in Spain took him to within 14 points of Michael Schumacher, had to settle for the third fastest time.
Then came Coulthard in 4th ahead of morning leader Michael Schumacher in 5th spot. The Jordans of Trulli and Frentzen were 7th and 15th with Jaguar's Eddie Irvine 16th quickest.
