Ferrari's Felipe Massa was quickest on Thursday's final day of Formula One testing for next week's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim while Giancarlo Fisichella crashed heavily in his Force India.
The Brazilian, level on 48 points with world champion team mate Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton at the halfway point in the season, was the only driver to lap inside one minute 15 seconds with a best time of 1:14.989.
"It was a good day's work," said Massa in a team statement. "We did a lot of kilometres and I have to say the car felt well balanced.
"This can only mean we should also be competitive at this track, which is also the case for our main rivals."
Massa, three times a winner this season, had led the championship before last weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone where he spun five times in the wet and finished 13th and last while Hamilton won.
Britain's Jenson Button was second fastest for Honda in 1:15.081 on a bright and warm day at Hockenheim with McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, taking over from Hamilton, third quickest in 1:15.289.
The session was halted after Italian Fisichella, who had crashed heavily in his previous test at Silverstone last month, hit the wall.
"The rear of the car went away and I just lost control through the stadium complex," said the Roman.
"The car went across the road and there's not much run off area there so I went into the wall. I'm fine, but the car was quite badly damaged. The guys did a good job to get it out again for the last 30 minutes."
Toyota, fourth in the constructors' championship after Silverstone, experimented with a new 'shark fin' engine cover before reverting to a standard one.
