Estoril Jordan testing notes 97-02-19

JORDAN Estoril test, Feb 14 to 19 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Benson and Hedges Total Jordan Peugeot team have been running the new Jordan Peugeot 197 in Estoril, ...

JORDAN Estoril test, Feb 14 to 19 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Benson and Hedges Total Jordan Peugeot team have been running the new Jordan Peugeot 197 in Estoril, Portugal for the past six days. Ralf Schumacher kicked things off on Friday and was joined by team mate Giancarlo Fisichella from Saturday. This was the first time that the team tested two 197 chassis side by side. Conditions were very wet on the opening day and Ralf was the only car to be seen on the track. The team managed to work on the general set up but eventually conditions got worse and Ralf hung up his helmet for the day. Giancarlo spent Sunday morning evaluating some new specifi- cation wet tires and he was the fastest of the runners in these conditions. Both drivers went onto slicks in the afternoon. Ralf has a troublesome day due to problems with engine ancillaries. Fisichella, on the first day of proper running in the 197, set a a time which was second fastest of the day - 1:22.16. The weather was dry on Monday and the team made good progress. Ralf managed to do a race distance, run with full pit stops and Giancarlo was only prevented from taking the fastest lap of the day by the intervention of a kamikaze dog which ran out onto the track in front of him. Tuesday was another fine day although it proved to be frus- trating for the Jordan Peugeot team. Fisichella was hampered by minor clutch problems which prevented him carrying out an intend- ed race run. Ralf also had problems with the clutch and he con- centrated on general set up work. On the last day of testing, Fisichella completed his first full race distance. Ralf again concentrated on race set up and the team felt they had achieved a positive set up. Gary Anderson, Technical Director, commented that the test had been a success. "I am happy with the general running of the car and the performance of our Goodyear tires "I feel that it was a very positive test, particularly as we did all the running with race fuel. After sorting out a few niggling problems, it was good for both Peugeot and ourselves to achieve two full race distances as well." The team will be testing again at Silverstone next week and will be running the third chassis. Best lap times: Ralf Schumacher: 1:19.76. Giancarlo Fisichella: 1:19.96. Total number or laps: Ralf Schumacher: 266. Giancarlo Fisichella: 233.