Friday June 9th, 2000

Ferrari: Schumacher on Holiday

While Michael Schumacher was away on holiday in the USA, Rubens Barrichello carried out the testing for Ferrari at Monza. He achieved the fastest time (1:24.778) on Tuesday but on Wednesday was carrying out reliability testing and did a long run in real racing conditions with refuelling from the rigs used at the circuits. He returned to Fiorano on Thursday where his car broke a rear suspension pushrod, but as this was an old component the team was not worried. It seems that the exhaust which broke at Monaco has been modified and some more progress was made with brake developments and engine mapping. Luca Badoer is testing today (Friday) and will shakedown the cars which are being shipped to Montreal.

McLaren: Three Pairs of Hands

The McLaren-Mercedes team brought three pairs of experienced hands to bear on this week's Monza test with Olivier Panis starting on his own on Tuesday, setting a best time of 1:25.037 - second behind Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari - to kick off the team's preparations for the Canadian Grand Prix. "Monza is the only low downforce circuit available for testing in preparation for Montreal," said a team member, "so we need to take full advantage of it."

On Wednesday, Mika Hakkinen (fastest on 1:24.518) and David Coulthard (1:25.679) took over to work through an exhaustive programme of aerodynamic development and tyre evaluation. On Thursday Hakkinen was again replaced by Panis while Coulthard stayed on for another day. In addition to preparations for the next race the team was also evaluating certain other mechanical components as part of their ongoing, long-term development programme. On Thursday, Coulthard (1:24.700) and Panis (1:25.138) finished the day with second and third fastest time.

Williams: Junquiera Joins Button at Monza

BMW Williams test driver Bruno Junqueira, the International Formula 3000 Championship leader, joined Jenson Button in the BMW Williams squad for this week's three day test at Monza which began on Tuesday. The Brazilian driver was deputising for Ralf Schumacher who suffered a badly cut left left when he crashed in the Monaco GP and was recuperating in an effort to regain his fitness in time for the Canadian GP. On Tuesday, Button completed 52 laps for a best time of 1:26.149, concentrating on testing aerodynamic set-ups for the low downforce Montreal track. "I have never driven at Monza before and I have to say that it certainly lives up to its reputation," he said. Junqueira, meanwhile, set a best time of 1:26.877 after 43 laps.

On Wednesday Button managed a 1:25.633 before his engine suddenly lost power and he had to sit out much of the afternoon session. Junquiera ran off the road at the first Lesmo corner as a result of which the engine in his car was slightly damaged after he set a best of 1:26.522. Fresh BMW V10s were therefore installed in both cars for Thursday's sessions. On Thursday, testing the low downforce set-up again, Button posted fastest time on 1:24.095. "It was a pretty good day for me and I am pleased with my quickest lap time," he said. "The car feels very good, and although the mileage could have been higher, I am confident going out to Canada." Bruno Junqueira suffered a few electronic problems and wound up with a best of 1:25.644.

Meanwhile, Ralf Schumacher travelled to Cologne to consult a specialist about his leg injury after initial treatment in Monte Carlo's Princess Grace clinic where doctors treated him for skin and muscle damage, but fortunately no harm to the ligaments. After three days of keeping his leg still, Ralf tried to put a load on it for the first time on Thursday. "The pain is decreasing," he said. "For the moment, I can stand, but walking is still a problem." Nevertheless, I am rather confident that I might be able to drive in Canada." Schumacher will stay in Cologne and make a decision on Monday. If there is a good chance he will be alright by next Friday, he will travel to Canada and then make a final decision. If he cannot drive, Junquiera will replace him.

Benetton: Pizzonia and Pantano Test Again

The Benetton Playlife squad began testing at Monza on Tuesday where British F3 Championship leader Antonio Pizzonia joined Giancarlo Fisichella. The Italian began a programme developing low downforce set-ups for Canada and Hockenheim but only managed ten laps (best 1:26.753) before an electrical problem sidelined him for the rest of the day. Pizzonia spent 20 laps learning the circuit, posting a best time of 1:28.064 before a problem with the front suspension and chassis ended his running for the day. The chassis he was using had to be sent back to the factory for repair, so he had to share a single B200 with Fisichella on Wednesday. In the morning Giancarlo concentrated on set-up work for Canada and tyre evaluation, setting a best time of 1:25.621. In the afternoon Pizzonia completed another 31 laps for a 1:27.076 best. On Thursday Giorgio Pantano took over the car, starting out by learning the circuit and then worked on basic set-up. Progress was steady until an engine problem at the end of the day terminated his efforts after he had recorded a best of 1:26.758.

Jordan: Routine Test for Both Drivers

Jarno Trulli began testing for the Jordan Mugen Honda squad at Monza on Tuesday, completing a total of 27 laps for a best of 1:25.621 after the track dried out following rain showers during the morning. For the first time this year the team concentrated on running low downforce combined with race fuel levels in preparation for the Canadian Grand Prix. Trulli continued testing on Wednesday morning when he completed 41 laps (fastest 1:25.213) after which the car underwent a routine engine change before Frentzen took over in the afternoon. This was the first time so far this season that Heinz-Harald had sampled this low downforce set-up and he managed a best of 1:26.833. On Thursday Frentzen completed 99 laps for a best time of 1:25.345, including long runs to test the brakes in preparation for Montreal.

BAR: Zonta Escapes Heavy Crash

For the second time this season the BAR-Honda team brought three cars fo the test session at Monza from Tuesday, both its race cars and the development chassis. It also brought four drivers; Jacques Villeneuve, Ricardo Zonta and test drivers Darren Manning and Patrick Lemarie. Unfortunately on Wednesday afternoon, Zonta had a major accident at Parabolica from which he fortunately emerged unhurt. The car was repairable, but the team decided to ship it back to the factory.

Jaguar: Burti and Irvine at Test

Luciano Burti began testing for the Jaguar team at Monza on Tuesday where the young Brazilian concentrated on low downforce set-up development work and brake testing in preparation for Canada. He covered 35 laps for a best time of 1:25.776. Burti was joined by Eddie Irvine on Wednesday, but the Brazilian continued his programme during the morning until he was stopped with a transmission problem after just 13 laps during which he managed a 1:26.123 best. In the afternoon Irvine checked out the work Burti had done, setting a best of 1:26.928 after 12 laps despite a spin which caused no damage to the car. On Thursday Irvine completed the test with some race runs on heavy fuel load and managed a best of 1:26.063.

Sauber: Preparations For Canada

Mika Salo began testing for the Sauber-Petronas team at Monza on Tuesday, completing 75 laps for a best time of 1:25.986. Commented test team manager Jacky Eeckelaert; "Montreal has similar low downforce requirements to Monza. The only difference is the top speed which in Montreal is around 320kph rather than 350kph at Monza. So we started the test with a Montreal set-up, switching later to a pure Monza set-up." Salo was still complaining about the conditions of his hands, badly brusied after lack of power steering on his car at Monaco. On Wednesday Diniz took over and set second fastest time on 1:25.085 before damaging a nose cone in a big off-track moment at the Ascari Curve. "It was quite a big moment," he said, "because I was doing 300kph when something went wrong with the brakes." On Thursday Diniz continued the test with a best time of 1:25.598.

Arrows: de la Rosa Starts at Monza

While the Arrows race team returned to its Leafield base with three damaged cars to repair following the Monaco Grand Prix, the test team went to Monza with an A21 which Pedro de la Rosa drove for the first two days. On Tuesday the Spaniard covered 47 laps for a best of 1:26.344 while evaluating new aerodynamic components while the following day he concentrated on mechanical set-up work while running with race fuel levels (best 1:26.644). Jos Verstappen took over for a single day on Thursday, posting fourth fastest time on 1:25.248.

Minardi: Successful Test

The Minardi team is very happy with the results of its Monza test where Gaston Mazzacane achieved third fastest time on Tuesday, sixth fastest on Wednesday and eighth fastest on Thursday.

Prost: At Two Circuits

The Prost-Peugeot team was running at Monza on Tuesday with Nick Heidfeld and on Wednesday with Jean Alesi. The AP03 was then taken to the Varano experimental track for high speed calibration runs with Stephane Sarrazin. The team was working on aerodynamics and testing a small modification to the engine's variable inlet trumpets. Prost also confirmed on Thursday that British engineer Alan Jenkins was leaving the team. The current chief of the experimental department, Jean-Paul Gousset, will take over the technical coordination.