Thursday February 10th, 2000

Former world champion Michael Schumacher had to abandon testing of Ferrari's new Formula One car on Thursday because of a stiff neck after just four laps.

However his time in the third lap was one minute 01.26 seconds, just one second off the Fiorano track record for last season's F399 car and almost three seconds faster than his quickest lap on the corresponding day of testing a year ago.

"It's a real shame I had to stop because the car felt really good," said the German, who missed six races last season because of a broken leg. "Anyway, I'm very optimistic given the time I managed in just a few laps."

Schumacher tested the F1-2000 car for the first time on Wednesday night, completing four laps in the dark shortly after 18:00pm. He said afterwards he had been bothered by feeling gusts of wind coming in under his helmet.

Today Rubens Barrichello also got behind the wheel of the F1-2000 and started to drive it for the first time. Rubens did 24 laps with a best time of 1:01.311. Afterwards, he said: "I had a very favourable impression of the new car which is very well balanced. The car seemed strong. There was not enough time to complete all the adjustments to the driving position to suit me and the brake pedal was a bit far away. I am equally delighted with my first encounter with the car. I turned up this morning to watch Michael carry out the development work. I was training in the gym when I was surprised to be called in drive because of Michael's problem."

Testing at Fiorano ended at 18:00 and Rubens Barrichello will continue driving tomorrow.