Brawn enjoy promising start to testing

Jenson Button got the newly-formed Brawn GP off to an encouraging start by topping the times for the morning session of the group test that began at Barcelona today.

Button's fastest lap of 1:21.140 was considerably quicker than anyone else managed, with Toyota's Jarno Trulli going closest with a 1:21.85s.

While variances in fuel loads and the different testing programmes being followed from team to team mean that the times themselves are not a reliable indicator of outright performance, the reincarnated Honda outfit will still have been pleased to see the BGP 001 complete 30 laps on the opening morning of its first public outing.

Prior to today, the Brawn GP car's track time had been limited to a brief shakedown at Silverstone late last week, with the team's very future only having been secured via a buyout a day earlier.

Rubens Barrichello will drive the car for the first time when he joins the Barcelona test later this week.

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