DC tops testing

[wodonnell]

David Coulthard topped the timesheets in Jerez.

1 David Coulthard (B) McLaren-Mercedes 1m22.632s
2 Olivier Panis (B) BAR-Honda 1m23.371s
3 Rubens Barrichello (B) Ferrari 1m23.828s
4 Nick Heidfeld (B) Sauber-Petronas 1m24.055s
5 Eddie Irvine (M) Jaguar 1m24.322s
6 Darren Manning* (B) BAR-Honda 1m24.513s
7 Kimi Raikkonen* (B) Sauber-Petronas 1m24.593s
8 Ricardo Zonta* (B) Jordan-Honda 1m24.605s
9 Jenson Button (M) Benetton-Renault 1m24.968s
10 Ralf Schumacher (M) Williams-BMW 1m25.248s
11 Juan-Pablo Montoya (M) Williams-BMW 1m25.364s
12 Luca Badoer* (B) Ferrari 1m25.730s
13 Pedro de la Rosa (B) Arrows-AMT 1m25.740s
14 Jarno Trulli (B) Jordan-Honda 1m25.920s
15 Marc Gene* (M) Williams-BMW 1m26.090s
16 Alex Wurz* (B) McLaren-Mercedes 1m27.570s
17 Giancarlo Fisichella (M) Benetton Renault No time posted

Times from http://www.autosport.com

Interesting that Ferrari are testing with everyone else for a change, so early in the season.

[Jeanburrasca81]

Yeah, really interesting to see Ferrari that early testing together with the others. Anyway these times don't say nothing about next seasons performance, so it's practically useless to analyse them.

[Billy_Hunt]

Anyway these times don't say nothing about next seasons performance, so it's practically useless to analyse them.

I bet the teams will, besides theres not a lot else happening.
First thing that struck me is the 5 sec gap between Wurz and DC it will be intresting to see if Wurz can do anything close to what DC and MH can do as the season progresses.

Interesting that Ferrari are testing with everyone else for a change, so early in the season.

Well Traction Control is legal now

First blood to Ralf then, Button seems to have settled.
Fisi had engine problems, not a sign of things to come from the new Renault I hope.
Nick Heidfeld looking good.

[MichaelC]

I know it's only testing, but I'm really glad Button finished ahead of both Williams drivers. And Kimi Rak beat all of them!!
Also good to see Nick H up near the top, and Panis' form seems to have stuck too.

[Valve Bounce]

"I know this is testing, BUT" , We don't even know what they are testing half the time or what their instructions were. I am glad to see things are happening again so we have something to talk about. The two Williams drivers were testing different things and ended up close to each other. It was nice to see JPM up there with Ralf, although I'd like to see this continue during the week. What did come out of all this is that Michelin say they are in the game, although we don't know how competitive they will be first year back at school. I suppose the Jaguar fans are already poking their tongues out at me since Eddie did so well. Lets see which of the Michelin guys will be the fastest this week. What else can we look for? I don't know; somebody keep this going please.

[wodonnell]

JPM was second fastest in the rain today!

I agree though that the times can be largely irrelevant. I remember that in early 2000 (or late 99), Gene was very close to the top in the Minardi. I think he may have even topped the times for one of the sessions (and, yes, there were other cars present)

[Billy_Hunt]

You asked for it !

[Valve Bounce]

With a little luck, Minardi will start testing soon. They could always put a Skoda engine in, and get the specatators to push the car around. That should solve the driver problem as the pushers can also steer the car.

[JeremySmith]

Billy!

Are you suggesting that Ferrari were using traction control this past season? I would hazard a guess that Maclaren and Bar were the guilty parties...

Cheers!