23/06/2004
NEWS STORY
McLaren tester Pedro de la Rosa topped the timesheets on the second day of testing at Jerez de la Frontera today, completing 110 laps in the 'new' McLaren MP4-19B.
The Spaniard posted a best time of 1:17.107, which although well off the best time posted earlier in the year by teammate Kimi Raikkonen in the MP4-19, has given the Woking team reason to be optimistic ahead of next week's French GP, when the car should make its race debut.
Also on duty for the Mercedes-powered team was Alexander Wurz, who finished third quickest having completed 105 laps. With Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard on duty tomorrow, the Scot driving the 19B for the first time, the car's reliability will have given everyone concerned a major confidence boost. In two days at the baking hot Spanish track, the 19B has completed over 300 laps without any serious problems.
Sandwiched between the two silver cars was Marc Gene, who was on duty for WilliamsF1 along with Antonio Pizzonia. Marc focused on long-distance tyre evaluation runs for Michelin, while Antonio tried various setup configurations ahead of the forthcoming back-to-back events in France and Britain.
Although no official statement has been made, or is likely to be made before next week, the assumption at Jerez is that Gene is preparing to replace Ralf Schumacher in next weekend's race at Magny Cours, and possibly Silverstone. The Spaniard deputised for the German at Monza last year and finished fifth.
BAR had Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson on duty, the Japanese driver still revelling in his podium-winning performance at Indianapolis. Both drivers lost valuable track time due to technical problems, Takuma completing just 54 laps and Anthony 33. No sooner had the Englishman been sent out to complete some laps, the team convinced it had found the cause of the problem, than he broke down out on the circuit.
Splitting the two BAR's was Ricardo Zonta, who was on duty for Toyota. The Brazilian completed 54 laps and finished fifth ahead of Davidson and Pizzonia