Motorsport: Lotus debut at Jerez test

JEREZ, Spain - Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel opened Formula One's penultimate test session by setting the fastest lap, while returning team Lotus made its track debut.

Vettel set a best time of 1 minute, 22.593 seconds from 99 laps around the Jerez Circuit on Wednesday as wet conditions once again hampered testing.

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton was nearly half a second behind ahead of Felipe Massa of Ferrari, while Sebastien Buemi of Toro Rosso and Sauber's Pedro De la Rosa rounded out the top-five.

Michael Schumacher of Mercedes GP was sixth with a time of 1:23.803 from a day-high 111 laps.

Fairuz Fauzy set the 11th fastest time for Lotus, which is returning to F1 after a 17-year absence with Malaysian backing.

- AP