THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JEREZ, Spain -- Mercedes' 2011 car topped Formula One preseason testing for a second straight day, while Lotus was quickest of this season's new batch of cars.
Nico Rosberg was quickest around the Jerez circuit on Thursday with a lap time of 1 minute, 17.613 seconds to follow up Michael Schumacher's leading pace a day earlier.
Romain Grosjean in a Lotus was the fastest in the 2012 designs, the French driver's time of 1:18.419 more than eight-tenths of a second faster than two-time defending world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, who was driving for the first time.
Lewis Hamilton's first spin in the new McLaren placed him fourth while Fernando Alonso kicked off his Ferrari campaign with the seventh-fastest time.
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