Barcelona testing report 2002-01-30

Ferrari once again topped the time sheets despite both Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello crashing heavily, rendering both cars unusable and bringing their testing to an abrupt halt.

Seven teams and sixteen drivers took part in today's test session. Schumacher, who emerged unscathed, spun off at approx 140mph in the penultimate turn 11 of the Circuit de Catalunya. Barrichello, also unhurt, followed suit, losing control on braking into turn 10 and hitting the barriers hard -- it's not yet been confirmed what the cause of either accident was and Ferrari have departed Barcelona after only one day of testing. Barrichello set the fastest time, clocking a 1.18.112, just ahead of Schumacher.

Sauber's Nick Heidfeld in the C21 repeated yesterday's third fastest, just under two tenths of a second from Schumacher's time. Heidfeld was testing the launch and traction control as well as working on development for Bridgestone. The Williams' of Marc Gene and Ralf Schumacher in fourth and sixth sanwiched the BAR of Olivier Panis, while Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella set the seventh fastest in the EJ12. Jordan continued to try out Marcel Lassee in last year's car, the young German finishing just outside the top ten in 11th.

Jacques Villeneuve in the BAR004 was eigth, Montoya for Williams ninth and Sauber's Felipe Massa rounded up the top ten. Massa was undertaking his first Grand Prix distance and the team were satisfied with his progress.

Jarno Trulli, testing the latest Michelin compound, was the faster of the Renaults, just over a tenth ahead of Jenson Button in the R202. Button was concentrating on long runs, taking the engine up to its maximum mileage. The two Toyotas of Allan McNish and Mika Salo once again were near the bottom of the times, along with Jordan's Takuma Sato.