16/02/2006
NEWS STORY
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Over 1500 local race fans were present for today's test session at the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain, as Ferrari, Honda and Toro Rosso continued their programmes.
With only six drivers present, and seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, once again, side-lined for much of the day as a result of a "technical problems", only the fans can honestly say whether the day represented good entertainment and value for money.
Yet again, it was the V10 powered F2004 which set the pace, as Felipe Massa concentrated on tyre testing and set-ups, putting another 90 laps (300 miles) on the clock.
However, it was another torrid day for Michael Schumacher, who, having been restricted to just 37 laps yesterday, managed 23 today, only running in the closing stages of the session. Consequently, much of the German's day was spent signing autographs and playing football in the paddock.
Tomorrow (Friday), Schumacher is the Italian team's sole representative, and it is hoped that he will be able to complete a full programme.
Jenson Button was second quickest, 0.67s down on Massa, but almost 0.4s up on his Honda teammate, Rubens Barrichello, though Tonio Liuzzi, in the V10 Toro Rosso split them.
Yet again, in addition to strong pace, the Hondas have shown impressive reliability, with the two Japanese cars completing over 230 laps between them.
Button spent the day focusing on a tyre evaluation programme, with live pit stops during the afternoon session, followed by a chassis set-up evaluation to conclude the day's running, while Barrichello completed a successful race simulation, along with a suspension and aero programme.
For its final day in the desert, Toro Rosso had Liuzzi and Scott Speed on duty, the Italian driving the RBR1 in the morning and the American taking over in the afternoon.
Liuzzi's programme involved a race weekend simulation.
"First we went through a qualifying run to get everyone used to the new system for Saturday afternoons and then we repeated it with a different strategy," explained Chief Engineer, Lauren Mekies. "Then Tonio did a couple of long runs, twenty laps each with refuelling and tyre changing pit stops. He did a fantastic job."
In the afternoon, it was Speed's turn to run through the same programme.
"The track conditions were very different in the afternoon, with the wind changing direction and it allowed us a good insight into what to do with the car if this should happen over the race weekend," continued Mekies.
"Scott also did a good job and, over the four days as a whole, we completed a good mileage and the team of mechanics and engineers worked very well. We are still quite a way from where we want to be, but we are making progress."
Toro Rosso will be back on track in Imola, just a few miles from its Faenza factory, when it resumes testing on Tuesday 21 February, when Neel Jani will be back in the cockpit.
Ferrari is the only team running here tomorrow.
Weather
Air temperature: 22-28 C
Track temperature: 27-37 C
Sunny, some cloud