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Mercedes tops F1 test; Lotus fastest 2012 car

CORRECTS NAME OF DRIVER - Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP drives during Formula One winter testing at the Circuito de Jerez, on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. (AP Photo / Miguel Angel Morenatti)

Sebastian Vettel of Germany walks in the paddock during Formula One winter testing at the Circuito de Jerez, on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. ( AP Photo/Miguel Angel Morenatti )

Fernando Alonso of Spain walk in the paddock during Formula One winter testing at the Circuito de Jerez, on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. ( AP Photo/Miguel Angel Morenatti )

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The Associated Press 2:21 PM Thursday, February 9, 2012

JEREZ, Spain — The new Mercedes car topped Formula One preseason testing for a second straight day, while Lotus was quickest of the season's new competitors.

Nico Rosberg was fastest around the Jerez circuit on Thursday with a lap of 1 minute, 17.613 seconds, following Michael Schumacher's leading pace on Wednesday.

French driver Romain Grosjean in a Lotus was the fastest in the 2012 designs at 1:18.419. It was 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 ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso. Fernando Alonso kicked off his Ferrari campaign with the seventh-fastest time.

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February 09, 2012 07:14 PM EST

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