Italian GP McLaren Friday notes

ITALIAN GRAND PRIX 1998 -- FRIDAY PRACTICE

Chassis Numbers Mika Hakkinen: MP4 -- 13 / 04 David Coulthard: MP4 - 13 / 06 T.Car MP4 -- 13 / 02 T.Car MP4 -- 13 / 03

The West McLaren Mercedes team had a positive day's practice despite heavy rain falling during the second session. David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen worked on balance and race set ups setting third and fifth fastest times of the day with a 1: 25. 690 and a 1:26.159 respectively.

MIKA HAKKINEN 'The test last week prepared us for the weekend up to a certain point, but the circuit always changes and there is still some work to be done to establish the right race set up. The rain during the second session curtailed my running for the day but I am in a good frame of mind for the weekend and I am looking forward to running tomorrow.'

DAVID COULTHARD 'During the first session we worked through a programme of trying to balance the car for the current track conditions. Although the test here last week gives us an idea of what to do, the track always changes and in addition there has also been a lot of rain here since last week. I had a couple of excursions down the escape road at the first chicane whilst trying to find my braking point, but otherwise I am content and looking forward to tomorrow.'

RON DENNIS 'A weather disrupted practice session but we did not have any drama's. I think it would be better for everyone if the sun shone tomorrow.'

NORBERT HAUG 'To make any statements about competitiveness - is almost impossible today. Our work on the race set up was finished prematurely by the rain. We also experienced new conditions after the removal of the bollards at the chicanes, the consequence of which meant we had to work on a new set up.'