11/09/2004
NEWS STORY
Ahead of this morning's first free practice session, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 22 degrees.
After the problems encountered at Spa, there were fears that we might see a further spate of tyre failures this weekend. Michelin is confident that there will not be a repeat of the failures we witnessed in Belgium, however there are now fears concerning brakes.
At a couple of points on the circuit, the cars have to brake from in excess of 200 mph, putting enormous strain on the brakes. Yesterday, at the entrance to the Parabolica, the brake disc on Pizzonia's WilliamsF1's "failed", sending the hapless Brazilian into the barriers.
We have witnessed such failures in the past, not just here at Monza but at other circuits. In many ways, the threat of the brakes failing at the end of a high-speed straight is even more worrying than a tyre blow-out. We just hope that there are no similar incidents.
At 09;00 precisely, Zsolt Baumgartner leaves the Minardi garage and heads on to the track. The Hungarian is followed by Heidfeld, Pantano, Panis, Trulli, Zonta and Bruni. Heidfeld didn't really run in the second session yesterday following an oil leak.
As ever, after an installation lap the drivers return to their respective garages. Pizzonia, Coulthard, Montoya, Raikkonen and Alonso, make up the second wave of drivers that come out to 'test the water'.
While the others return to their garages, Alonso continues round, however he too returns to his 'box' at the end of his second lap.
Instead it's Nick Heidfeld that posts the first time of the day, the German crossing the line at 1:25.337.
Button, Sato and Webber come out, as Bruni posts the second time of the session - which is now seventeen minutes old. The Italian crosses the line at 1:26.614, as Heidfeld improves to 1:25.278.
A 1:23.438 sees Mark Webber go quickest, as Giorgio Pantano goes second with a 1:25.172. Next time around the Italian improves, closing to within 1.295s of the Australian.
Halfway through the session and only four drivers have posted times, while Barrichello, Schumacher, Fisichella, Massa and Klien haven't stuck their noses out of their garages.
Baumgartner goes fifth with a 1:27.972 as Barrichello finally comes out to play. The Brazilian continues round and finally crosses the line at 1:31.365. He begins another lap and immediately goes quickest in the first sector. He's quickest again in the second crossing the finish line at 1:22.711, that's 0.727s quicker than Webber. The Brazilian continues and next time around his time is down to 1:21.855.
Michael Schumacher comes out and immediately joins his Ferrari teammate at the top of the timesheets, the German posting a 1:21.962. This triggers a mass exodus of the garages, as Pizzonia, Alonso, Trulli, Coulthard and Montoya come out.
Pizzonia, showing no after effects of his crash yesterday, goes quickest with a 1:21.723, however, Alonso is also on a very fast lap. Zonta goes third and teammate Panis fourth, only to both be pushed down a position as Alonso goes quickest with a 1:21.705. Trulli goes seventh but next time around improves to sixth with a 1:22.884.
Jenson Button posts 1:22.062 to go sixth, as Montoya goes straight to the top of the timesheets with a 1:21.700. Raikkonen goes sixth, while teammate Coulthard goes eighth.
With around eight minutes remaining, it's Montoya, Alonso, Pizzonia, Barrichello, Schumacher, Raikkonen, Button, Coulthard, Zonta and Trulli.
Fisichella goes nineteenth (1:32.020), which means that Sato is the only driver that hasn't posted a time.
Felipe Massa goes ninth with a 1:22.520, then improves to 1:22.284, while teammate Fisichella goes twelfth. Takuma Sato finally posts a time, the Japanese driver going fifth, splitting the Ferraris, with a 1:21.867.
Bruni posts 1:24.411, which puts him ahead of both the Jordans and his Minardi teammate.
There are no further improvements and the session ends with Montoya quickest ahead of Alonso, Pizzonia, Barrichello, Sato, Schumacher, Raikkonen, Button, Coulthard and Massa. Trulli finished down in twelfth.