11/01/2005
NEWS STORY
On the second day of testing at Jerez, WilliamsF1 drivers Mark Webber and Nick Heidfeld continued to set the pace.
Conditions at the Spanish track were ideal, with blue skies, little wind, and temperatures reaching 17 degrees C.
Webber concentrated on tyre testing, evaluating various compounds for Michelin, while Heidfeld, who is still under consideration for the second race seat in 2005, focussed on brake ducts configurations on the interim car, as well as set-up work, paying particular attention to springs and dampers. The Australian suffered a mechanical problem at the end of the session, which resulted in the only red flag of the day.
Tomorrow, Antonio Pizzonia, who is vying with Heidfeld for the second race seat, will join Webber.
Third quickest, albeit almost a second off the pace, was Renault's Franck Montagny, who is the French outfit's sole tester this week.
Fourth and sixth quickest was the BAR duo of Davidson and Bernoldi, both running 'concept cars'. The English driver completed 95 laps, finishing 1.9s off the pace, while Bernoldi, who continues to suffer slight next pains was slowest, 3.6s off the pace.
Splitting the two Brackley cars was Ralf Schumacher in the new Toyota TF105. Overheating problems seriously compromised the German's running during the morning session, but by the afternoon the issue appeared to have been resolved, with the former williamsF1 star posting a best time just 0.4s slower than Davidson.
As the BAR is understood to be the only car, other than the Toyota, running to 2005 aerodynamic specifications, this will give the Japanese team much encouragement. That said, TF105 will feature revised aerodynamics before Melbourne.
Testing continues tomorrow, when McLaren (Raikkonen and Wurz) and Ferrari (Gene) will join in.