Reigning Champion Dario Franchitti has posted the fastest time in first practice ahead of this weekend’s round of the IndyCar Series at Kentucky Speedway. The Target Chip Ganassi man was less than a tenth quicker than four other drivers, however, with Penske’s Helio Castroneves being the closest.

Formula One's governing body says "a lot of work remains to be completed" before the Yeongam venue is ready for the inaugural Korean Grand Prix.

Trident Racing has revealed that Edoardo Piscopo will be making his GP2 Main Series debut by replacing cash-strapped Johnny Cecotto at Monza next weekend. The former Formula 2 driver and current Auto GP series leader first competed with the team in the most recent Asia Series.

Russia’s Sergey Afanasiev, fastest in first practice this morning, has picked up his first ever pole position in Formula 2. The 22-year-old will start Saturday morning’s first Oschersleben race alongside Lithuania’s Kazimieras Vasiliauskas as championship contenders Dean Stoneman and Jolyon Palmer line up in fifth and eighth spots.

Whereas Honda team-mate and fastest Friday rider Dani Pedrosa is focussing on overall concentration levels at Misano, Andrea Dovizioso is sure that a right tyre choice could make a significant difference in what he suspects will be a closely-fought San Marino Grand Prix on Sunday.

Fastest Friday man Dani Pedrosa admits that he carries confidence into Saturday at Misano, having comfortably controlled the pace in Friday’s first free practice session of the San Marino Grand Prix weekend, although the Spanish Honda rider is also staying level-headed.

World Champion Valentino Rossi was able to post the fourth best time on Friday, behind only the rapid Hondas and Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, although the Italian admits that he still continues to be affected by the injuries picked up at his first home event earlier in the season.

Despite still looking in good shape for the championship, Jorge Lorenzo was unable to cope with the speed of Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso on Friday as the two Repsol men headed the timesheets in first practice for the San Marino Grand Prix.

It was the Repsol Honda bikes of Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso which led the way in first practice for the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano on Friday afternoon. In fact, the symmetry continued throughout the top eight as the duo were followed by pairs of factory Yamahas, Tech 3 Yamahas and the works Ducatis.

Even though, on paper, the Monza circuit's characteristics appear to suit our package, developing a car that performs well on one of the most unique venues on the Formula 1 calendar is no easy job.