Valencia Day 5: Jaguar fastest!!

[SALEEN S7R]

SOURCE: AUTOSPORT.COM


Jaguar tops Valencia times for second day running



Pizzonia flew in testing at Valencia


Jaguar rookie Antonio Pizzonia has beaten Juan Pablo Montoya's unofficial lap record at the Valencia circuit in Spain, on the final day of testing at the track today (Friday).

The Brazilian set a best lap of 1m10.08s, beating Montoya's mark from Monday by 0.07s. The Colombian set the second fastest time of the test, once again driving the 2002-specification Williams whilst conducting tyre testing for the team.

Pizzonia was understandably pleased with the progress made by the Jaguar squad. "The car was getting better at Barcelona last week, and we've now made a further step forward," he said. "The balance is a lot better now. Hopefully next week we'll have two cars and we can do some long runs and race simulations."

Jacques Villeneuve set the third quickest time, and also completed a long-run wearing the Head and Neck Support device that he has been an outspoken critic of. "It was very difficult and it's very uncomfortable," said the Canadian. "But I suppose I have to get on with it."

Villeneuve was also happy with the speed of his car, if not the reliability. His day ended when his Honda engine blew up along the main straight late in the session. He said: "It was a good day and the car was very quick, but it's still very fragile."

Marc Gene and Ralf Schumacher were the other drivers in action, both driving 2003 Williams. Both cars suffered a number of small technical problems throughout the day, although Schumacher completed over 88 laps in his machine.

"The car is getting better," said Gene. "We just have to focus on the aerodynamic balance." To this end, the team has switched testing venues for next week, preferring to go to the aerodynamically demanding Barcelona circuit rather than returning to Valencia.

Valencia day 5 (unofficial)
Pos Driver Chassis-engine Tyres Time Laps
1 Antonio Pizzonia Jaguar M 1m10.08s 25
2 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW M 1m11.18s 97*
3 Jacques Villeneuve BAR-Honda B 1m11.32s 75
4 Marc Gene Williams-BMW M 1m11.89s 42
5 Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW M 1m12.38s 88

B = Bridgestone
M = Michelin
* denotes 2002 car

ENDS:/

This is great news, perhaps this year Jag may be hot on the heels of Toyota Renault and Sauber..

[NiceGuyEddie]

Nothing short of amazing.

Not the first time Jungleboy breaks a record. When he did a one off test foor Jaguar in Spain during 2002, he want faster than a Jaguar-F1 ever went on that track.

[BigFella]

Doesn't surprise me, I know a lot of people don't rate him but since I saw him in formula Renault a few years back I knew he would make a big impression in F1

[SALEEN S7R]

Formula Renault? I thought Pizzonia was a British F3 Champion, then moved to F3000 - had a great debut year and a poor 2nd year (he got the seat on his testing merits.)

[Mackmot]

He did Formula Vauxhall Juniors in 97 and champion in 98, then Formula Renault champ in 99, Formula 3 champ in 2000, then 2 years in F3000. People have rated him highly ever since his first test in Juniors

[SALEEN S7R]

And less highly from his 2nd year in 2002 - he didnt do as well in the same team as he did in 2001.

[Speed]

The thing is........., Jaguar breaking records !!!

[neilap]

"At this time of year," Peter Sauber said at his launch at the weekend, "we are all cheats!"

So beware new record times and let us wait until Melbourne to see a real picture of what the season ahead will bring.

[Speed]

How do you cheat the clock ?

We're talking about a track record here...

[JonesF1]

Originally posted by Speed
[B]How do you cheat the clock ?B]

Sandbagging. But lets just hope thats not the case. Viva Jaguar!

[shiny side up!]

One might want to remember the preseason form the Prost team showed 2 years ago. I don't remember if they were setting lap records, but they were very fast, only to return to their expected performance come Melbourne...

[Speed]

Sandbagging ?!?

I know what you mean, but, how ?, using underweight and fragile components ?, don't think so...

And for me, breaking a record under "low fuel" is not sandbagging, is getting some great speed performance...

[Speed]

I don't remember Prost breaking any track record. They only got better results than the rest on testig days, by using low fuel..., and it's not the same as what Jaguar is showing now, I guess.

[JonesF1]

Speed, im not trying to discredit Jaguar because I want them to do well but sandbagging is a very real thing. I also dont consider running a low/high fuel load or even playing with the revs (only a bit) as misleading but teams can and will run over/underweight.

[neilap]

I like Jag. They would be my 2nd maybe 3rd favorite team. I just dont want to get my hopes up. That all. Lets see if this form can be replicated in the race. Who cares about a testing record that does not score points.

[Speed]

Ok, ok..., and you're right on that one Neil, testing record does not score..., but I have faith...

What about my Minardi..., they don't have money for testing nor sandbagging...

[fousto]

a record is a record you still have to drive the car. Pizz has looked pretty good to date.

I see Honda puked another motor!!

[Jukebox]

certainly a very odd situation considering there's 3 other BMW on the track and he only made 25 laps! But then, the Williams might be testing on other things rather than concentrating on lap times...who knows what are their priorities that day.

[Valve Bounce]

This is very interesting. Fast times are difficult unless the car is so light ordinarily that ballast has to be used to get up to the regulation weight. Now that Jaguar have decided to adopt friday tests on race days, we might finally see something from the green cars this year.

[ashley 19]

Valencia: Pizzonia on top!
The Brazilian shatters the lap record [14/02/03 - 20:14]





The Jaguar R4 is impressive
aguar once again made quite an impression in Valencia today as Antonio Pizzonia posted the best time of the day. The young Brazilian didn't stop there, as he beat the Barcelona track lap record!

Juan Pablo Montoya had the second-fastest time, driving last season's FW24, the new FW25's being driven by Ralf Schumacher and Marc Gene. At BAR-Honda, Jacques Villeneuve tried to get comfortable with the HANS device, apparently to no avail...

Valencia - 14/02/2003

1. A. Pizzonia - Jaguar - 1:10.083 - 25 laps
2. J.P. Montoya - BMW-Williams - 1:11.179 - 97 laps
3. J. Villeneuve - BAR - Honda - 1:11.323 - 75 laps
4. M. Gené - BMW-Williams - 1:11.890 - 42 laps
5. R. Schumacher - BMW-Williams - 1:12.385 - 88 laps

[neilap]

Originally posted by fousto
a record is a record you still have to drive the car. Pizz has looked pretty good to date.

I see Honda puked another motor!!

Actually it was a transmission failure. Also they lapped the fastest they have ever lapped there before the transmission failed. Still without the up to spec motor.

[Valve Bounce]

We need Jellybabe to give us the details of that Hoda test. As for Jaguar, yes!! it would be wonderful if they realised our dreams and became a top contender for races. We need races and hard fought battles, not processions.