Barcelona testing report 2002-01-31

With Ferrari departing Barcelona yesterday after crashing both cars, Sauber took over the top if the time sheets today -- Nick Heidfeld took the track by storm, clocking the top time of 1.17.891, eight tenths of second faster than team mate Felipe Massa and nearly a second and a half faster than third placed Marc Gene in the Williams FW23. Heidfeld had gearbox and drive shaft problems but was very happy with the performance of the C21.

Five teams and eleven drivers took part in the test: Juan Pablo Montoya was fourth fastest in the new Williams FW24 while Toyota put in an improved performance, Allan McNish and Mika Salo placing fifth and sixth respectively. The team were working on aerodynamics and some tyre testing ahead of going back to the Paul Ricard circuit in France for further development.

Jordan's Takuma Sato has been having difficulty with the new EJ12 seating position this week but managed to be seventh quickest in the older RJ11 while team mate Giancarlo Fisichella was tenth in the EJ12. The third Williams on track, Antonio Pizzonia, was eighth, Renault's Jarno Trulli in the R202 ninth. Renault tester Fernando Alonso rounded up the botom of today's times, carrying out tyre development for Michelin and suffered a water leak on the B201 which cut short his track time.