New Renault debuts on track
Eight of the ten Formula One teams and fourteen drivers were in action at the Barcelona circuit today as the second test of 2004 got underway in earnest. Williams once again dok8nated the session with Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya topping the timesheets ahead of Renault’s Fernando Alonso in the R23B ahead of Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello who finished fourth fastest.
Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer was fifth on the timesheets ahead of Jarno Trulli who was the man in charge of the new ‘dolphin’ RenaultR24. The Italian driver managed 59 laps in the new challenger to finish in sixth place overall.
Takuma Sato was in action for British American Racing along with test driver Anthony Davidson, the dup finishing seventh and eighth respectively. Felipe Massa was the sole driver for Sauber in ninth place ahead of the two Toyota drivers, Ricardo Zonta and Cristiano da Matta.
Rubens Barrichello however blew a Ferrari engine on the straight, a thing we hare rarely seen from Ferrari lately. He wasn't however the only one who had to stop driving for a while, since Mark Webber smashed his Jaguar into the tyre barrier, which was likely the following of a suspension failure on last year's R4. Webber had only managed 10 laps so far.
Debutant Timo Glock made his F1 debut for Jordan and ended his day in spectacular style when after 54 laps he went off track and caused significant damage to the car. (Gazetta dello sport)
Today's times at Barcelona:
1. R. Schumacher (Ger, Williams) 1'15"710 (80 laps)
2. Montoya (Col, Williams) 1'15"822 (85)
3. Alonso (Spa, Renault) 1'15"896 (88)
4. Barrichello (Bra, Ferrari) 1'15"989 (65)
5. Badoer (Ita, Ferrari) 1'16"991 (56)
6. Trulli (Ita, Renault) 1'17"046 (42)
7. Sato (Gia, Bar) 1'17"082 (90)
8. Davidson (Gbr, Bar) 1'17"309 (83)
9. Massa (Bra, Sauber) 1'17"776 (61)
10. Zonta (Bra, Toyota) 1'17"965 (83)
11. Da Matta (Bra, Toyota) 1'18"101 (15)
12. Glock (Ger, Jordan) 1'19"625 (54)
13. Klien (Aut, Jaguar) 1'19"781 (41)
14. Webber (Aus, Jaguar) 1'20"384 (10)
Record: M. Schumacher (Ferrari) 1'15'016 (23/1/2003)
