Sunday September 5th, 1999

Schumacher delays return

After attempting to take part in the three day testing session at Monza last week, Michael Schumacher has decided to delay his racing return to Scuderia-Ferrari-Marlboro until he is 100 percent fit, probably not before the final two races of the season in Malaysia and Japan. He took to the track on Wednesday in front of an estimated 15,000 'tifosi', but said later that his leg hurt him "Right from the very first lap." He completed some 27 laps during the day with a best of 1:26.894 before being sidelined by an hydraulic failure similar to one wich had stopped his team-mate Irvine in the morning. "My brain and heart wanted to do it, but the leg didn't. I want to be 100 percent fit before I try again and maybe I will miss the next two races," added Schumacher.

The team continued the test throughout the week with Irvine and Salo working on race set-ups for next weekend's race. After trying lots of different configurations and not really finding any major improvements, Irvine still managed to set the quickest time of the week on the final day on Friday with a best of 1:23.876 just before the end of the session. Mika Salo had a good week testing different engines and set-ups recording the sixth fastest time of the week at 1:24.535 on Thursday which he came close to repeating on Friday.

McLaren optimistic

Both McLaren drivers were present for extensive pre-race set-up work, especially brake testing as this track is one of the hardest of the year on brakes. Hakkinen set what was to be the fourth fastest time of the week on Thursday before ending his test, Coulthard third fastest for the week just a fraction faster on 1:24.250. Adrian Newey said after the test, "We are pleased with the progress we made for the race, but there is no need to be complacent. Testing times can be confusing, and it's always dangerous to make assumptions about a test as you never know what fuel levels other teams were running."

Jordan happy with their performance

Jordan drivers Damon Hill and Heinz Harald Frentzen were both testing in Monza, each running two days out of the three. Running high fuel loads throughout the test and working particularly hard on revised brake systems over race distances, both drivers were happy with their cars potential at the end of the test. "I am optimistic about the race in Monza. We seem to be competitive in both race and qualifying trim, although I did not run a quick lap. I will be looking for a place on the front row for the race," said Frentzen after the test. The team were also trying revised throttle and gearbox parts intended for next year's car. It was Hill's last test session for the Jordan team.

Ralf delighted with his Williams

Ralf Schumacher was another driver to come out of the test with a positive view of the upcoming Grand Prix. Although he set only the eighth fastest time of the week (1:24.683) before stopping on Thursday he said, "The car is very competitive on low downforce tracks like Monza. We have a good set-up and the car is very good under braking and over the kerbs, the two criteria for fast laps here," he said. Alex Zanardi tried running steel brakes again as well as other aerodynamic modifications and set what was to be the fifth fastest time of the week on Friday at 1:24.403. Williams also tested F3000 driver Bruno Junqueira on Friday, who set the slowest time of the day on 1:27.157.

Benetton continue July test work

The Benetton team ran a three day test for both drivers trying a revised differential as well as aerodynamic modifications continuing work from their test during mid-July in Monza. "The concentration has been on optimising some new aerodynamic parts and working with a modified electro-hydraulic differential," said Technical Director Pat Symonds. "We also carried out a lot of routine pre-race work like tyre evaluation and brake testing and the results have been generally very successful," he added. Wurz had a minor off the first day losing time for repairs otherwise both drivers had a trouble-free practice. Benetton also announced that it plans to strengthen its technical department by taking on engineers from Honda's research and development team in Slough.

Sauber work on set-ups for the race

Sauber were hard at work at Monza, Pedro Diniz testing a new front wing and other aerodynamic changes as he worked on different chassis set-ups and brake modifications. They also tried revised dampers and suspension geometry during the test. "The car feels a lot better and I have been able to do a lot more than a race distance," said Diniz, who set a best of 1:25.493 for the week, Alesi's best being a 1:25.536 the previous day, Thursday.

Prost has minor problems

Jarno Trulli and Olivier Panis were also working on set-up work for the race, once again trying the revised top-exit exhaust system. On Wednesday both drivers were delayed by wiring loom problems and Trulli also broke and exhaust stay which damaged a drive-shaft boot. Panis also had an engine failure on Thursday morning, but went well on Friday to set the seventh fastest time of the week (1:24.638), Trulli setting his best time of 1:24.805.

Arrows stay in England

The Arrows team did not test in Monza, Tora Takagi running their cars at Santa Pod raceway where they worked on avoiding the hot-start problems suffered by de la Rosa in Spa. A team spokesman also said that, "Egbhal Hamidy's influence has already been beneficial in setting up the car."

Minardi thinks about his future

Giancarlo Minardi says that he is still negotiating the backing of his team with a potential investor and denies having talks with Prost test driver Stephane Sarrazin. "I will speak to drivers when I know about my own future," he says. Both Badoer and Gene were testing at Monza, Badoer having a spin and Gene stopping out on the track during the course of the test.

Reduced test for BAR

Following their two major crashes at Spa, the BAR team were down to Ricardo Zonta's Spa race chassis for the test while the two damaged cars were sent back to the factory for repairs. Both Zonta and Villeneuve were delayed by more mechanical problems. "Despite the fact that we have not done as much running as we would have liked with Jacques and Ricardo, we have learned a few things that will add to our growing bank of experience," said team manager, Robert Synge. Zonta's best was a 1:27.039, Villeneuve managing a 1:26.293 on Friday.