Frentzen fastest for Jordan

Although Heinz Harald Frentzen tested for only one of the four days at Monza, it was the German who set the fastest time of the week with a 1m 24.41 during 70 laps of running. "The car was working very well at Monza. I was trying the revised gearbox and aerodynamics that we ran in practice at Silverstone," said Frentzen. With Damon Hill on holiday after announcing that he will remain with the team until the end of the season, Shinji Nakano began testing for the team on Wednesday, his main task being to put miles on the revised gearbox and rear wing mounting. He set a best time of 1:27.063 secs.

Ferrari test in Fiorano and Monza

With the confirmation that Mika Salo will stand in for the injured Michael Schumacher until he is fit, the Finn was put to work immediately when he began testing at Fiorano, Ferrari's private test track. At the same time, Eddie Irvine was testing with the rest of the teams at Monza.

Salo ran on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a best time of 1:2.313, but had to give up his chassis late in the day following damage to Irvine's car in Monza when he ran over a kerb. Salo, who married his Japanese girlfriend on today, described his chance to drive for Ferrari as ," The biggest opportunity of my life."

"I shall be listening to everything the team tells me during the race. I hope to do a good job," he added.

Irvine ran all four days of the Monza test finishing on Friday with his best time of the week of 1:24.416, the second fastest time of the week. Following that he said, "It isn't easy for anyone to beat Hakkinen, but I think that with the car I had this morning, Hakkinen can be beaten."

Heidfeld tests latest McLaren

Formula 3000 Championship leader Nick Heidfeld started the test for the McLaren team on Tuesday driving the McLaren- Mercedes MP4 for the first time while standing in for Mika Hakkinen. "He did a good smooth job for us," said a team spokesperson, the young German running only eight laps in the morning and eight in the afternoon for a best time of 1:27.12 with Coulthard setting a best of 1:26.28 during some 35 laps on the same day.

The team were working on set-ups for the upcoming two races , Hakkinen joining Coulthard on Wednesday. Despite a minor off-track excursion which did not damage the car, Hakkinen and Coulthard set the fastest times on Wednesday with a best of 1:25.593 and 1:25.836 respectively and improved to 1:24.69 and 1:24.83 on Thursday which saw Coulthard have a harmless spin. Only Frentzen went faster on the day, while Irvine also bettered their times on Friday after the McLaren team had left.

Hakkinen's wheel problems at the last race was described by the team as being," An operational problem which prevented the left rear wheel from being properly secured."

Williams continues aero development

Both Ralf Schumacher and Alex Zanardi began testing on Tuesday, both continuing the development of the new aerodynamic package that they ran for the first time in Silverstone. Schumacher set the best time of the first day at 1:26.11 in 28 laps with Zanardi fifth with a best of 1:26.77 secs after 55 laps.

A huge thunder storm on Tuesday evening saw Ralf Schumacher destroy his road car when he drove into a flooded underpass, but he walked away unhurt and did not run on Wednesday morning while storm debris was cleared from the track. He did only 13 laps for the day after being delayed in the afternoon by electrical and hydraulic problems. Zanardi ran 30 laps and was two tenth's of a second slower than Ralf after trying Hockenheim configuration on his car.

On Thursday Ralf tried new brake calipers and set his best time of the week at 1:25.24 after 52 laps, sliding off the track in the afternoon. Zanardi's best of the week was set on Thursday with a 1:25.751. "It was an interesting test although we had a few problems. Now we are looking forward to having some more new pieces to test," said Ralf.

Fisichella has lucky escape

Giancarlo Fisichella's test for Benetton started badly when he had a major crash on Tuesday afternoon hitting the guard rail at the first corner at around 150 kmph, the accident though to have been caused by the possible loss of drive to one rear wheel. The chassis was written off so Fisichella spent Wednesday in the chassis allocated to test driver Laurent Redon while a second chassis was sent out from England.

The team concentrated on a new low downforce package for Hockenheim. On Thursday Fisichella set his best time of the week with a 1:25.371 before going off at the first Lesmo in the afternoon, Redon setting a best of 1:26.78, Wurz also joining the test on Thursday to set a best of 1:25.52 which he improved to 1:25.350 on Friday, Fisichella stopping his test on Thursday. Redon's best on Friday was 127.14 in 47 laps working on engine mapping for the next two races. Wurz worked on brake and tyre testing.

Burti quick for Stewart

Stewart's Brazilian F3 driver, Luciano Burti, made an impressive F1 debut while standing in for Rubens Barrichello at the Stewart team, Rubens taking a holiday in Brazil. After running 67 laps on Tuesday with a best of 1:26.782 he improved to 1:24.95 on Friday. "It was a fantastic experience driving and F1 car at Monza for the first time," he said. "We have got through a lot of set-up work and I was pleased to be able to make a contribution," he added. Herbert ran on Wednesday and Thursday setting a best of 1:25.882 on Thursday while trying a revised exhaust configuration which he reported made the engine run much smoother.

Both drivers test for Sauber

Alesi ran the first two days and Diniz the second two for the Sauber team, both drivers assessing a new low downforce aerodynamic package. Alesi's best was a 1:27.24 secs the first day before concentrating on race distance and pit-stops for which the race mechanics attended. He had two spins and a minor off which damaged the rear suspension on Wednesday on his way to third fastest time of the day of 1:26.09 after 65 laps. On Thursday Diniz took over but had a big crash at the first Lesmo due to suspected rear brake failure. He had done 65 laps with a best of 1:25.96. Despite a bruised neck, he ran another 33 laps on Friday and improved his time to 1:25.09.

Sarrazin quickest for Prost

Test driver Stephan Sarrazin did most of the testing for the Prost team who had one car which Olivier Panis drove Wednesday afternoon for 20 laps to set a best of 1:27.74. Sarrazin drove in the morning to set a best of 1:27.46 for the day in 16 laps after the track had been cleared. Sarrazin drove all day Thursday to set a best for the week of 1:26.16 during 68 laps for the day working on trying to improve traction.

de la Rosa and Takagi share single Arrows

Pedro de la Rosa drove the first two days of the three day test for the Arrows team, the Spaniard setting a best of 1:27.49 the second day after concentrating on aerodynamic modifications and different set-ups. Takagi set a best of 1:27.49 during 23 laps when he worked on engine mapping.

Problems for BAR

Although BAR planned only a two day test for Villeneuve and Zonta it was effectively reduced to one and a half days because of the storm damage. Both drivers worked on a low downforce package for Hockenheim and evaluated a new aerodynamic package and suspension parts for Austria, the team calling the results "encouraging."

On Thursday Villeneuve set the fifth fastest time of the day with a 1:25.32 in 42 laps, Zonta seventh fastest at 1.25.49 during 54 laps after gearbox and engine problems kept him in the pits for all but 11 laps the first day.

Minardi out at Monza

Minardi ran for the first time this season at Monza, the local team testing a new aerodynamic package which could appear at the Austrian Grand Prix. Gene ran on Wednesday and Thursday with a best of 1:26.54 in just 16 laps on Thursday.