An optimistic Jenson Button says McLarens car feels positive at the Bahrain GP after the team finished an unexpected third-fastest on Friday. A day after suffering the blow of Fernando Alonso being sidelined for at least this weekends race after his big Melbourne shunt, Button gave the clearest glimpse yet of the performance jump the McLaren-Honda package appears to have made over the winter.The team have finished in the points just five times in the 21 races since McLarens problem-filled reunion with Honda, but had qualified more strongly at the season-opener in Australia before their weekend went awry again in the race. Asked if their eye-catching form in Bahrain on Friday - when only the dominant Mercedes cars outpaced them in P2 - boded well for the weekend, Button told Sky Sports News HQ: I dont really know yet. But P1 was the same.In the second run in P1 we ran higher fuel, so couldnt really get a reasonable lap time, but I think it would have been equally competitive. When is Bahrain Qualy on? 4pm starts for both qualifying and the race in Bahrain on Sky F1. The car doesnt feel too bad. I came from the back up tyre to the supersoft, which is a big leap - I think its 3.2 seconds. So its obviously going to feel good and youre probably not going get everything out of it, but the balance is reasonable.The cars feeling nice around here, its definitely better than Melbourne. Long run, some areas need a bit of work - especially on the harder compounds - but the supersoft was reasonably good. McLarens first target would appear to be a return to the final phase of qualifying on Saturday - a feat they have not achieved since 2014 - and Button added: Its a nice place to be, a positive start but still, as always, there is more work to be done overnight.The weight of expectation at McLaren will rest on the 36-year-old Buttons shoulders this weekend given Alonsos stand-in, reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne, is making his F1 debut.McLaren pace shocks RenaultAfter flying in from Japan overnight, the reigning GP2 champion steadily improved his pace during the course of Friday and finished second practice in 11th place. Vandoorne, who only learnt of his call-up on Thursday, told Sky Sports News HQ: I feel 100 per cent ready. Today was very good, I felt comfortable in the car quickly and I had a good feeling in P2. There were a lot of operational things l had to learn, but so far it has been very good.I have to enjoy this opportunity. Its never ideal to jump into a car without any testing but so far its been very good in both practice sessions. The 24-year-old had never driven the MP4-31 prior to Practice One and ended the day 0.7 seconds adrift of Button. However, McLarens elder statesman was impressed with Vandoornes performance.Hes done a really good job today, Button said.His lap would have been a lot better than it looked, so hes fitted in as you would expect. Hes a very talented driver, so well see what we can do as a team [in qualifying]. Even though Stoffel Vandoorne only got the call to replace Fernando Alonso in the Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday, he believes he is ready for the challenge Every race live in 2016 Sky Sports F1 brings you every race live in 2016. Fast and easy online upgrade - click here. Also See: Button third in Practice Two Alonso not 100% certain for China Buy Air Max 270 Black . 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Air Max 97 Plus Cheap Wholesale .Michael Briscoe is serving a life sentence for sexual assault, kidnapping and first-degree murder in the death of 13-year-old Nina Courtepatte in 2005.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Mannings never-ending quest to hone his game and Nick Sabans desire to decipher fast-paced offences led to a recent meeting that the Crimson Tide coach called mutually beneficial. It also might have violated NFL rules because, according to Saban, Denver Broncos offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase also was in attendance. The league doesnt allow players and their coaches to meet before the start of off-season workouts, which for the Broncos begin Monday. On-field instruction wont start until mid-May. The Associated Press left messages with the team and the NFL on Friday seeking comment. Gase, one of the rising young stars in the NFL coaching ranks, and Saban go way back. Gase worked under Saban at Michigan State in the late 1990s and followed him to LSU as a graduate assistant in 2000. Saban also has known Manning for a long time and is friends with his father, Archie. Saban said after Thursdays practice that Manning and Gase were "making some visits" and stopped by Tuscaloosa, Ala., a couple of weeks ago. "To be honest with you, he was just trying to learn so he could be a better player," Saban said of the five-time MVP who led the Broncos to the Super Bowl, where they were soundly beaten by Seattle. With Gase calling the shots, Manniing set NFL records by throwing for 55 touchdowns and 5,447 yards in 2013 as the Broncos became the first team in league history to score more than 600 points in a season.dddddddddddd Saban picked their brains about the no-huddle, something Alabama has had trouble with, and Manning picked up pointers from one of the brightest minds in coaching. "Since theyre a no-huddle team, we had a lot of questions for them, in terms of what gives them problems and what defensive teams do that gives them problems," Saban said. "That was kind of a mutual, hopefully beneficial -- I know it was a benefit to us. I hope it was a benefit to them, as well." The Broncos gather Monday for whats called Phase One of the voluntary off-season workout program. During the first two weeks of the off-season program, activities are limited to strength and conditioning and rehabilitation before any on-field work and instruction are allowed. Before giving the keynote address at the Boy Scouts of America Sports Breakfast in Denver on Wednesday, Manning said hes going to use Denvers 43-8 loss to the Seahawks in the Super Bowl as motivation for the upcoming season: "We have to try to find a way to build off that, and try to take it a step farther, try to finish," he suggested. ' ' '