Saturday January 22nd, 2000

The first test programme of the B200 was concluded very positively today, as Giancarlo Fisichella completed 77 laps - 390 km - which is the B200's first race distance. The team continued to learn more about the new car looking in particular at brake and tyre work. Giancarlo posted a fastest lap of 1:22.00.

"We were able to learn a lot more about the car today as we ran so many kilometres," Fisichella commented. "It's amazing that on only my second day in the car I was able to finish a race distance. The car is starting to really fly now, I can't wait to get back in."

Fisichella and Alexander Wurz will continue their second stage of pre-season training in Monte Carlo next week. The programme run by the team's Human Performance Centre will last for 4 days and will include at least 6 hours per day of cardiovascular training, general conditioning and strength, balance and reflex development work.

The Williams team, who was scheduled to run its two young drivers today, did not go out and instead will allow Jenson Button and Bruno Junqueira to run tomorrow, Sunday, in hope that a decision can be made before Monday's car launch on who will be teammate to Ralf Schumacher, and who will be test driver.

The 1999 Barcelona lap record is 1:20.540 (R. Barrichello)