Sunday January 9th, 2000

Mika Salo in the Sauber was overall fastest on the second day of testing at Barcelona.

Testing began today at 09:30am, with Sauber, Ferrari, BAR, Prost and Jaguar present. The changeable weather conditions affected the day's work programme for all teams, as well as various technical failures.

Salo was driving the 2000 Sauber car, the C19, which he previously drove at Fiorano, on 28 December. "The car has terrific grip and its much better than the C18B test car," said Salo. "You can feel the extra grip and downforce. I was very happy." His teammate, Pedro Diniz, ran just 7 laps on the damp track in the morning unable to get under 1:36.0 secs. Designer Sergio Rinland was also making his first public appearance with the team in Barcelona.

Johnny Herbert took the second fastest time of the day with the new Jaguar despite running just 13 timed laps after a troubled day with various electrical and gearbox problems. At the end of the day he made two short runs of four or five laps each and set an encouraging 1:24.267 secs. Eddie Irvine also only ran 13 laps with the second new Jaguar to set a best of 1:24.472 secs, fourth fastest time for the day. Like Herbert, he was in and out of the pits working on electrical problems.

Rubens Barrichello, fastest yesterday, ran 38 laps on Sunday to take the third fastest time of 1:24.463 secs, the Brazilian continuing to work on different engine management programs on his Ferrari for this year's engines.

Stephane Sarrazin had a better day with the Prost on Sunday setting some 37 timed laps for a best of 1:24.661 secs. Jacques Villeneuve, suffering from a bad cold, ran only 16 laps for the day which saw more electronic gear change troubles and a best of only 1:26.327s.

Shortly after practice ended, the threatening skies finally delivered rain to the Catalunya track which is expected to move through the area before the final day of practice on Monday, however the cool temperatures mean that the track is likely to remain damp again for much of the day anyway.

Today's times:

Pos  Driver       Team             Time      Laps
 1.  Salo         Sauber-Petronas  1:24.157   39 
 2.  Herbert      Jaguar-Cosworth  1:24.267   13
 3.  Barrichello  Ferrari          1:24.463   38
 4.  Irvine       Jaguar-Cosworth  1:24.472   13
 5.  Sarrazin     Prost-Peugeot    1:24.661   37
 6.  Villeneuve   BAR-Honda        1:26.327   16
 7.  Diniz        Sauber-Petronas  1:36.954    7