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BMW WILLIAMSF1 TEAM (1st - 30points) : WET
START AT VALENCIA
The BMW WilliamsF1 team began a three day test at Valencia in
wet conditions on Tuesday where test drivers Marc Gene and
Antonio Pizzonia shared an FW24 and an FW23C interim chassis,
working on tire development programs with Michelin in addition
to certain areas of engine software. "It rained all day and as
a consequence we suffered plenty of red flags on the track",
said test team manager Tim Newton. "Marc had a minor incident
on his installation lap. Antonio was getting used to being in
an Formula One car again after a considerable period and it
was his first experience of driving the car in the rain".
Pizzonia managed a 1m35.440s best with Gene posting a
1m37.169s. On Wednesday Montoya joined the test in preparation
for the San Marino Grand Prix, posting a 1m14.543s for second
fastest of the day. "We were testing brakes and carrying out
Michelin tire tests", said Technical Director Patrick Head.
"All fairly routine stuff". On Thursday Montoya again set
second fastest time on 1m12.453s with the FW24 while Pizzonia
did a 1m13.740s in the FW23C.
SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO (2nd - 24 points) : SCHUMACHER TRIES
TWO CARS
Michael Schumacher started testing on Thursday at Fiorano in
the old F2001 after Luca Badoer had completed two days there
with the new F2002, during which he completed 145 laps for a
best lap time of 58.99sec. Badoer was working on tires and
electronics. Schumacher's priority was tire testing for
Bridgestone and some brake work. He was due to continue that
program today (Friday) and then switch to the F2002 on
Saturday. Meanwhile Rubens Barrichello drove the new car for
two days at Mugello, but was stopped by an engine problem
after 44 laps. The trio of F2002s for the San Marino Grand
Prix will be shaken down at Fiorano next Wednesday.
Friday 5 April 2002 - Page 2
WEST McLAREN MERCEDES (3rd - 8 points) : LAST RUN FOR INTERIM
CAR
McLaren-Mercedes test driver Alexander Wurz gave the MP4/16B
interim test car what was likely to be its final outing at the
Valencia test this week as sufficient MP4/17s have now been
built to service the test squad as well as the regular race
team. Carrying our Michelin tire testing and chassis
development work on Tuesday, Wurz managed a 1m36.067s in the
wet conditions. On Wednesday Kimi Raikkonen set the pace at
the wheel of an MP4/17, completing 42 laps with a best of
1m13.161s which was over a full second faster than Juan Pablo
Montoya in the Williams. Raikkonen maintained his fastest time
on Thursday with a 1m12.445s to complete the test with Wurz
posting a 1m13.079s.
MILD SEVEN RENAULT F1 TEAM (4th - 6 points) : ALONSO OFF TRACK
AT VALENCIA
Renault test driver Fernando Alonso started the Renault team's
test at Valencia on Tuesday, his program of gearbox and
software development being curtailed when he aquaplaned off
the circuit during the afternoon after managing just 18 laps.
On Wednesday Jarno Trulli took over and managed 77 laps with a
best of 1m15.864s. Commented Technical Director Mike Gascoyne;
"This morning we conducted a number of reliability tests with
new and modified components. We ran a tire test for Michelin
in the afternoon, but this was made difficult by the windy
conditions". On Thursday Trulli (1m13.833s) and Alonso
(1m14.016s) shared the R202 and Trulli had the chance to try a
modified engine specification which performed its reliability
testing without any problems. Meanwhile, team principal Flavio
Briatore has raised the hopes of British fans who are hoping
to see Jenson Button remaining with the team for the 2003
season. "When we arrive in Silverstone for the British Grand
Prix then maybe we will decide something", said Briatore. "We
have a different Jenson this year. He has changed completely,
he concentrates. He is fantastic. We have a very good driver
and he has done a great job".
JAGUAR RACING (5th - 3 points) : R3 DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES
Eddie Irvine began Jaguar's test program at Valencia on
Tuesday where his main priority was the continued development
program on the R3 which the team has decided to concentrate on
exclusively following exhaustive back-to-back tests with the
R2B at Barcelona a fortnight ago. Irvine managed a 1m34.729s
best, third fastest on the day, in the wet conditions but had
a more profitable day in the dry but windy conditions which
prevailed on the Wednesday. He completed 64 laps for a best
time of 1m 4.672s, working on minor adjustments to the R3's
aerodynamic package while concentrating on improving the
balance of the car. Meanwhile Jaguar Racing Managing Director
Guenther Steiner reflected positively on the Brazilian Grand
Prix weekend. "We have certainly improved since Malaysia", he
said, "I couldn't say by what percentage, but we'll see at the
next race how much better we are". Pedro de la Rosa took over
the R3 for the final day and managed a 1m14.491s. The team's
wind tunnel at Brackley opened for operation this week and
will be working round-the-clock shifts in a bid to gain extra
data for the car's development.
SAUBER PETRONAS (6th - 3 points) : INTENSIVE TEST PROGRAM
The Sauber Petronas team tested with one C21 in Valencia this
week where they completed an intensive program of development
work. The job list included tire testing for Bridgestone,
set-up work relating to different aerodynamic configurations,
optimizing control systems including launch control, assessing
the hydraulic differential and trying out new brake cooling
systems. In heavy rain on Tuesday Nick Heidfeld set fastest
time with a best of 1m33.03s after 42 laps despite a quick
spin into one of the gravel traps. On the second day the
German completed 86 trouble-free laps with a 1m14.826s being
sixth fastest on the day. On Thursday Felipe Massa took over.
KL MINARDI ASIATECH (7th - 2 points) : CARS BACK ON WEDNESDAY
The Minardi PS02s only arrived back from Brazil on Wednesday
and will be only testing today (Friday) at Misano Adriatico
with Mark Webber driving. He will be assessing aerodynamic
developments which the team did not have time to test in
Brazil and also newer developments from the Fondmetal wind
tunnel.
PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING (8th - 2 points) : McNISH AT VALENCIA
After Mika Salo scored another World Championship point for
the team in Brazil, Allan McNish started a three day test at
Valencia on Tuesday and completed 50 laps in the wet
conditions for a best time of 1m38.36s, carrying out some tire
testing for Michelin. On Wednesday McNish was intending to
carry out serious set-up work in preparation for the San
Marino Grand Prix, but an electronics problem prevented him
bettering a 1m17.07s best after 27 laps. "Despite the
electronic problem I did some useful brake testing and set-up
work for the next race", he said. "I have not raced at Imola
before, amazingly perhaps, but we have plenty of data about
the track from our test there last year". McNish continued to
post a 1m13.61s on Thursday. After the San Marino Grand Prix,
Toyota will continue its test program at Mugello from 16
April.
LUCKY STRIKE BAR HONDA (9th - 0 points) : WORKING ON
RELIABILITY
The Lucky Strike BAR Honda team completed a comprehensive
three day test at Valencia on Thursday with the combined aim
of working through the reliability issues which were raised at
the Brazilian Grand Prix with the aim of achieving a steady
performance gain in the coming races. Anthony Davidson was
present for the duration of the test and Olivier Panis joined
the team for the last two days. It was raining on the first
day and it gave the team the opportunity to work on wet
weather running. On Wednesday Panis achieved the third best
time of the day in 1m14.559s while Davidson covered just nine
laps before being sidelined by a recurrence of the recent
gearbox problems. On Thursday Panis ended the day sixth on
1m13.469s while Davidson's day was cut short by an accident.
DHL JORDAN HONDA (10th - 0 points) : SATO STARTS IN THE WET
Takuma Sato started the Jordan-Honda team's test in the wet at
Valencia on Tuesday, the Japanese driver working on general
chassis set-up plus launch control, traction control and wet
weather tire testing for Bridgestone. He completed 75 laps and
set a 1m33.59s which was the second fastest lap of the day. On
Wednesday Giancarlo Fisichella joined Sato and the two men
shared Jordan EJ12-05 in the now dry, windy conditions. In the
morning Sato set eighth fastest time on 1m 15.04s, working on
brake components, Honda's engine program and general set-up
work. Fisichella took over after lunch but was unable to run
for more than seven laps due to a prolonged red flag period
and then a small fuel leak which limited his time on the
circuit, so his best time was 1m15.79s. Fisichella concluded
the Jordan-Honda squad's final day with 41 laps and a best
time of 1m13.45s. His priorities were to continue work on the
engine development program plus more brake system development,
launch and traction control and aerodynamic work. "I'm fairly
happy with the progress made over the last few days", said
Fisichella, "and there have been some developments with the
engine which look promising."
ORANGE ARROWS (11th - 0 points) : NO TESTING
The Arrows team is concentrating on working behind the scenes
at its Leafield headquarters in the run-up to the San Marino
Grand Prix. Its next scheduled test session will be at
Silverstone starting on 16 April. FIA
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Enrique Bernoldi
